The Office of Unified Communications' Telephone Reporting Unit (TRU) is designed to manage and generate non-emergency incident or offense police reports telephonically for specified event types. The primary purpose of the Telephone Reporting Unit is to service events that do not necessarily require the presence of a police officer.
The TRU assumes the responsibility of interviewing citizens and reviewing and approving non-emergency events in support of the Metropolitan Police Department to improve public service by giving citizens an easy and convenient way to file a police report.
Telephone Reporting Unit (TRU) Services
Calls made to 3-1-1 or 9-1-1 may be processed by the Telephone Reporting (TRU). The TRU will create reports for all of the incidents listed below. These reports will receive the same extensive follow-up that any report taken in-person would receive.
Telephone Reporting Unit Only (TRU) |
TRU or Online |
| Placement Violations | Damage to Property |
| Placement Violations Return | Destruction of Property |
| Fraud | Lost Property |
| Hit and Run | Lost Tags |
| Identity Theft | Theft 1 & 2 |
| Miscellaneous | Theft from Auto |
| Stolen Bikes | |
| Stolen Tags |
File A Police Report Online
The Metropolitan Police Department maintains an online reporting tool for non-emergency incidents that can be accessed by visiting the Online Reporting Tool. At this time, the online police reporting application may only be completed in English. If you need to file a police report in any other language, please call 3-1-1 or 9-1-1, instead. Interpreters are available to assist.
In order to make a report using the Online Reporting Tool, please ensure that ALL of the following conditions are present:
- The event took place in the District of Columbia, but not on Metrorail, Metrobus, or Metro property.
- The suspects are not known to you.
- The suspects have left the scene.
- You (or, the complainant, if you are making a report on behalf of another party) have not suffered any injuries.
- There is no apparent need for investigation at the scene, including video surveillance tape.
- There is no obvious physical evidence available at the scene.
- There are no witnesses to be interviewed.
- This is not a traffic crash.
- The event occurred within the last six months. Events older than six months should be reported to 911, not filed with this online application.
For more information, visit MPD's website here.
