Crime Prevention

The Albany Police Department recognizes the importance of maintaining strong relationships with the community we serve. In an effort to continually improve accessibility between officers and community members, the Albany Police Department is proud to announce the launch of its Area Coordinator Program.

While you are away on vacation, the Albany Police would like to make an extra effort to check on your home. All you need to do is fill out a Vacation Home Watch Form(PDF, 185KB) and turn it in at the Albany Police Department. You must submit this form in person with your ID in our lobby prior to leaving.

Residents requesting the vacation home watch service should be aware that every reasonable effort will be made to inspect the property during your absence, however circumstances may not allow for checks to occur on any specific days or at all. Daily property checks cannot be assured. Any community member seeking additional clarification concerning our potential inability to provide this service is encouraged to contact the on-duty supervisor at (510) 525-7300.

Note: For the safety of your house guests and our officers, the residence will not qualify for vacation home checks if anyone will be staying in the residence during the time of the checks or if the home is vacant due to a sale or construction.

Welcome to Your Local Business Guide

Crime—burglary, robbery, vandalism, shoplifting, employee theft, and fraud—costs businesses billions of dollars each year. Crime can be particularly devastating to small businesses.

The Albany Police Department has ways to help small businesses reduce and prevent crime by working with owners to improve security and procedures. Please see our Local Business Guide "Partnering with Business to Help Build Resiliency" which includes:

• Laying the Foundation for Prevention
• Burglary Prevention
• Robbery Prevention
• Credit Card Fraud
• Check Fraud
• Shoplifting Prevention
• Vandalism Prevention
• Employee Theft Prevention
• After Hours Business Contact Form

See the entire Local Business Guide Here(PDF, 333KB) or pick up a hard copy of the Local Business Guide at the Finance Department at City Hall

Complete and submit the After Hours Business Contact Form Online or Print and return(PDF, 188KB).

Community Partnership

The Albany Police Department is partnering with the community to prevent and solve crimes.

Registration is voluntary and there is no cost associated with registration. Registering your information does not provide the Albany Police Department with direct access to your camera and you may delete your registration at any time. Your personal information will be kept confidential by the Police Department and will only be accessed by law enforcement personnel who are conducting an investigation.

You will only be contacted by the Albany Police Department in the future if there is a criminal incident in your neighborhood or in the vicinity of your security camera. Police personnel, if necessary, may request a copy of any video captured by your camera, which may assist in the investigation of a crime.

Register your camera

The Albany Police Department now has Text to 911. This new feature will allow you to text us during an emergency when you cannot talk on the phone. To use this system, all you have to do is type 911 in the recipient text field, enter the incident details and hit send. Our dispatchers will receive your message and begin a text conversation.

• A dispatcher will reply to you by text. Be sure to silence your ringtone if staying quiet is important for your safety.
• Give an accurate address or location as quickly as possible.
• Identify the type of help you need — police, fire or ambulance.
• Be brief, but don't use abbreviations or slang.
• Text in English. Translation services are not yet available for text to 911.
• Do not copy other people on text to 911. Group messages will not go through.
• Do not use emoticons or attach photos or videos. Texts with any images or multimedia will not go through.
• If your text to 911 fails to go through, you should receive a bounce-back message saying the service is not available and instructing you to make a voice call to 911.
• If you do not receive a text response from 911, try to contact 911 another way.
• 911 call centers cannot identify your exact location when you send a text to 911.
• Don't text and drive.

Contact The Police Department if you need a form that is not available on this page.

• Vacation Home Watch Request Form(PDF, 185KB)
• Public Records Request Form(PDF, 390KB)
• Parking Citation Review Form(PDF, 62KB)
• Law Enforcement Gun Release Application(PDF, 108KB)
• Commendations and Complaints

Police Fees

All of the Police Department fees are listed in the City of Albany's Master Fee Schedule.