The Orange Police Department strives to deliver the highest quality of professional services to everyone who lives and works in the City of Orange.

Most alarm calls that OPD officers receive are false alarms. You can help us conserve essential police resources by following these three steps:

1. Make sure you register your alarm with the Orange Police Department Alarm Unit.
2. Make sure you keep your alarm company updated with your current phone number(s).
3. Make sure to keep the Police Department updated with your current information.

The Orange Police Department has a Burglary Alarm Registration form, which is required to be on file for any alarm installation for your home or business.  Please complete a Burglary Alarm Registration form for each alarm system and or each location equipped with an alarm.  There is also an Alarm Appeal Petition form, for appealing false alarm charges.

Please contact the Alarm Unit at (714) 744-7501 with questions and further information regarding alarms. 

If your incident is an emergency, call 9-1-1.

If you need immediate assistance, but it is not an emergency, please contact our Dispatch center at (714) 744-7444.

For all other reports, see File an Online Police Report or contact our Patrol desk at (714) 744-7416.

The OPD Records Bureau receives, maintains, and archives police records in compliance with department policies, City policies and state law.

Copies of reports are available from the Records Bureau counter, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m and Saturday from 8 a.m to 2 p.m.

• Reports will only be released to parties involved in the incident
• You must bring a valid form of I.D. to receive a copy of any reports and complete the Request for Release of Police Records Information form.  Fees may apply
• Request a police report online

All report requests must be reviewed for eligibility for release and may take up to 10 business days to process.

Certain reports may not be available for release because the investigation is still ongoing, or because release of the report is restricted by law.

Additionally, certain reports must be redacted (have protected information removed) or have approval by the investigating Detective before they can be released.

You may request a copy of a report if you are:

• A victim of a crime
• An authorized representative of the victim of a crime (with a signed waiver)
• The insurance carrier against whom a claim has been made or may be made
• A person who suffered bodily injury or property damage because of an incident, including, but not limited to, a traffic collision

If you were arrested:

If you have been arrested and have not appeared in court, the Records Bureau will not release the report. The case must be adjudicated before the report may be released. The court or prosecution will discuss options for obtaining the report at your arraignment.

If a report involved a juvenile (under 18 years of age):

• Juvenile information includes any document relating to juvenile contacts and arrests, including being a victim of any crime
• The Superior Court of Orange County Juvenile court limits access to juvenile court records in accordance with the California Rule of Court 5.552, and Welfare & Institutions Code Section 827 provides Juvenile Court
• Release of juvenile information requires the authorization of the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court
• Parents of a juvenile may receive a copy of certain types of reports (i.e., traffic collision reports). Availability of these records is restricted to court personnel, the minor, parents or guardian, attorneys involved in the case, and other persons designated by statute

All others must petition Juvenile Court directly for the release of that record. The Records Bureau has the necessary form to submit to the Superior Court of Orange County Juvenile court.

Juvenile Petition to Obtain Report of Law Enforcement Agency

Instructions on How to Complete Juvenile Petition

To learn more, visit the Orange County Juvenile Court in person or online.

The Orange Police Department's Record Bureau currently does not provide a live scanning or ink fingerprinting service.

If you have received a Live Scan Fingerprinting Request form from the City of Orange Human Resources, or Business Licensing Department, please contact us for an appointment at (714) 744-7380.

Vehicle releases may be obtained from the Records Bureau counter, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• The registered owner must be present with a valid government issued identification card to receive a release
• If the registered owner is unable to visit the Records Bureau, a notarized authorization letter must be submitted to our department designating a specific person who is able to have the vehicle released to them

Requirements for Vehicle Release:

1. The vehicle must have current registration.
2. A valid government issued identification card (i.e., driver's license, ID card, passport).
3. A "Moving Permit", issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, if the vehicle is in need of smog certification or other applicable reasons.
4. A valid licensed driver must be present.

Legal owners must present required repossession paperwork as stated in California Vehicle Code 14602.6(1)(E)(3).

• Members of the public may obtain a background check from the Orange Police Department for incidents in which occurred within the city
• To obtain a complete criminal background check for the state of California please contact the Department of Justice
• Please provide a valid government issued photo identification card
• A $30 fee is applied for this service and may take up to 10 business days

VIN verifications will be conducted on CA vehicles only on Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  A fee of 75.00 will be charged.  After paying the vin verification fee dial (714) 744-7444, to schedule an appointment. 

Download the DMV Verification of Vehicle form.

The Orange Police Department believes that it is the right of every person regardless of race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, to be secure and protected from fear, intimidation, and physical harm caused by the activities of violent groups and individuals. All reported cases of hate crimes will be fully investigated. Review the Orange Police Department Hate Crime Policy.   

What is a Hate Crime?

California’s hate crime laws are codified in Penal Code Sections 422.55, 422.6, 422.7, and 422.75.

California Penal Code 422.55 defines a hate crime as a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim. This includes:

• Disability
• Gender
• Nationality
• Race or ethnicity
• Religion
• Sexual orientation
• Association with a person or group of persons with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics

Criminal acts include, but are not limited to:

• Vandalism
• Physical violence against the person of another
• Criminal threats
• Theft

What is a Hate Incident?

Hate incidents are defined by the California Department of Justice as “an action or behavior motivated by hate, but legally protected by the First Amendment right to freedom of expression. If a hate incident starts to threaten a person or property, it may become a hate crime.”

Examples of hate incidents include, but are not limited to:

• Name-calling, including racial slurs or other derogatory terminology.
• Insults
• Distributing hate material in public places
• Displaying hate material on private property

What is Hate Speech?

Hate speech is any form of expression through which speakers intend to vilify, humiliate, or incite hatred against a group or a class of persons on the basis of race, religion, skin color, sexual identity, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, or national origin.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects most speech, even when it is disagreeable, offensive, or hurtful.

What should I do if I am victimized?

• In an emergency, call 911. Otherwise, call OPD dispatch at (714) 744-7444 to make a report. 
• Obtain medical attention, if needed. Be sure to keep all medical documentation.
• Leave all the evidence in place. Do not touch, remove, or clean up anything. 
• Document what happened. Take photographs of the evidence, writing down exactly what was said, particularly any words that indicate biased motivation, and other information that may be valuable.
• Get the name(s), address(es) and phone number(s) of other victims and witnesses.
• If possible, write down a description of the perpetrator and the perpetrator’s vehicle.

Additional resources

The Orange Police Department partners with the Orange County Human Relations Commission. Their mission is to seek out the causes of tension and conflict, discrimination and intolerance and attempt to eliminate those causes.

The Orange Police Department reports all hate crimes to both the California Department of Justice and the Orange County Human Relations Commission.

The Attorney General has developed a hate crime brochure with information on how to identify and report hate crimes and services available to victims of hate crimes.

Hate Crimes Fact Sheet - English           Hate Crimes Fact Sheet - Spanish

Hate Crime Statistics

2024