Frequently Asked Questions

If there's a crime in progress, an emergency or a medical incident, call 9-1-1.

For 'cold' crimes that happened overnight or weeks ago within Fort Collins city limits, you can make an online report or call 970-221-6540.

Call 911 for emergencies when you need immediate police, fire or medical help. Examples include:

• Life or property in immediate danger.
• Crime in progress or just happened.
• Someone needs an ambulance.

When calling 911, stay on the line and remain calm with your information ready.

The Property and Evidence Unit releases property by appointment only. Schedule an appointment by calling 970-221-6835.

Get all jail information by calling Larimer County Jail at 970-498-5225. The Larimer County Sheriff's Office runs this facility.

Fort Collins Police Services does not issue restraining orders. You need to contact a private attorney for help.

Do not call the Police Department or 911. Report all power outages to Light & Power at 970-221-6710.

ORDINANCE 15-106 FOR PRIVATE PREMISES: If a "NO TRESPASSING" or "NO SOLICITATION" sign is posted at or near the entrance, all door-to-door soliciting is prohibited. Without such signs, only charitable, religious, political and newspaper/magazine subscription soliciting is allowed.

ORDINANCE 15-107 FOR PUBLIC PREMISES: If a "NO TRESPASSING" or "NO SOLICITATION" sign is posted, all door-to-door soliciting is prohibited. Without such signs, all door-to-door soliciting is allowed at public premises.

NO fireworks are legal within city limits, including sparklers and snakes. You can get a citation and fine for using or having fireworks.

Call the graffiti hotline at 970-416-2400.

For 35 years, Fort Collins Police Services has let community members ride with patrol officers to see typical police duties firsthand. During the ride-along, officers and community members can talk openly about police work and how it has changed in Fort Collins.

Participants must complete an application, liability waiver form, and pass a background check. You can request a specific day and shift, but based on staffing or special events we may not always be able to accommodate requests.  Once accepted, Patrol Administrative Assistants will contact you to arrange the date and time.

Due to popularity, participants are limited to two rides per calendar year. Applicants under 18 must get written permission from their parent/guardian.

For more information, contact the Patrol Division at 970-416-2383.

Call 9-1-1 immediately if:

• You suspect someone is injured.
• Vehicles are badly damaged and blocking traffic.
• There is a fight or disagreement between parties.
• One or more drivers may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

If none of these apply or vehicles have been moved, you can report the incident online or call 970-221-6540 and:

• Select Option 3 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or
• Select Option 7 (outside of business hours).

For crashes outside Fort Collins city limits, call Colorado State Patrol at 303-239-4501.

Call 911 or dial *CSP from your cell phone to report a drunk driver.

From a cell phone, dial *277 or 303-239-4501 to report road rage.

The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) stores information on aggressive drivers. Drivers reported more than three times get a warning. If the situation needs immediate attention, a CSP Trooper will respond.

For ongoing problems with the same location or driver within Fort Collins city limits, call 970-221-6842 to reach our Traffic Unit.

For one-time incidents, call 970-221-6540, Option 3. You'll need to provide:

• Date and time of incident.
• Type of traffic violation (e.g., speeding, careless driving, etc.).
• Location of incident.
• Vehicle description.
• Description of driver.
• Your name, address and phone number.

FCPS does VIN verifications by appointment only. Visit our Traffic Enforcement webpage for instructions on setting up and appointment.

For ticket and payment information, contact the Municipal Court on the first floor of 215 N. Mason St., or call 970-221-6867.

Call 970-221-6540 (Option 3) to report an abandoned vehicle.

Note: The Fort Collins Traffic Code does not limit parking time on public streets unless posted otherwise. Abandoned vehicles cannot park on public right-of-way if they are unattended, broken or unregistered.

The Bike Co-op works with FC Bikes to recover, identify and return abandoned bicycles to their owners. Report stolen bikes to Fort Collins Police Services and complete a stolen property report so the Bike Co-op can match recovered bikes with owners.

After the required impound period, unclaimed bikes become property of the Bike Co-op and are used locally for the Earn-A-Bike and other charity programs. Bikes that can't be fixed are recycled to keep them out of landfills. Fort Collins residents should drop off found or abandoned bikes at the Bike Co-op at 1501 N. College during open hours. If you can't drop off a bicycle, arrange with the co-op for a volunteer to pick up the bike. Call the Bike Co-op at 970-484-3804 or email: bars@fcbikecoop.org.

No, if hired, we will put you through our Colorado Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) Academy also known as Fort Collins Police Academy. This is an in-house academy that you attend at our expense, and you will be paid the entry level salary of $85,789.

If you're already POST certified, it is highly encouraged to attend the full 22-week POST Academy to receive the benefits of excellent training taught by FCPS instructors; however, there is an option for a shortened 15-week Lateral Academy.

You will start at $99,504 as a Colorado POST certified (or a police officer in another state eligible for Colorado POST certification). This includes Colorado POST academy graduates that have not yet started employment as a police officer, as long as you are eligible for POST certification upon hire with us. You would be eligible for top pay in approximately 3 years. You will also receive a one-time 40 hour award time (time off) bank in addition to the existing vacation and holiday time benefits.

You will start at $85,789. You will receive step pay raises during the next 3.5 years until you will reach top pay of $116,760. You will receive a one-time award time (time off) bank of 20 hours upon your hire.

If you are a U.S. Military Veteran with at least three years of service and 30-59 college credit hours, OR a police officer from another department with 30-59 college credit hours and at least three years of full-time work, you are eligible for a waiver of 30 semester hours.

*To be considered a lateral officer for the above education requirement, the applicant must:

• Be a fully certified police officer in the state of Colorado or another state and are able to meet the Colorado POST requirements for certified officer; and
• Have served as a full-time police officer for a minimum of three years; and
• Have been employed in good standing within one year of the application date as a full-time police officer.

We are very thorough, as we want to select the best possible police officers. The process takes approximately eight months.

Yes, based on Colorado POST certification requirements you must be 21 years old at the close of applications to apply.

Tattoos on the head, neck, and hands (excluding wedding band tattoos) are not permitted. Visible tattoos on the arms and legs are allowed with approval by the Tattoo Review Board.

If you are a fully certified police officer in Colorado or another state and able to meet Colorado POST requirements for certified officer; and have served as a full-time police officer for a minimum of two years; and have been employed in good standing within one year of the application date as a full time police officer, you may qualify for the Lateral Entry Pay Program. Qualified candidates will start at the level (4) pay rate, which is currently $106,413. Qualified Lateral Entry Officers are also eligible for a one-time 80 hour award time (time off) bank in addition to the existing vacation and holiday time benefits. Lateral Pay Officers will obtain top pay in approximately 2 years from date of hire.

Lateral Pay Officers are encouraged to attend the full 22-week POST Academy to receive the benefits of excellent training taught by FCPS instructors and better understanding of agency culture and values while receiving excellent pay; however, there is an option for a shortened 15-week Academy followed by a 16 week Field Training Officer program.

We offer an out of area testing week during each hiring process in which several of the components are compressed into a week. If you continue to the end of the hiring process, you will only need to travel to Fort Collins twice.

The written examination is the I/O Solutions NCJOSi2. Although not required to pass the test, there is a study guide available for purchase from the vendor at https://iosolutions.com/product/ncjosi2-elite-study-package-online/.

If hired, you will complete our 22-week Fort Collins Police Academy followed by a 16-week Field Training Officer Program regardless of prior experience.

No, we put you through our very own Colorado POST academy also known as Fort Collins Police Academy. The academy is located at our police department, and is generally held daytime hours, Monday-Friday.

You must reapply each time you intend to participate in a hiring process.

We provide almost all equipment to you. This includes duty gear, uniforms, iPhone, take home police vehicle, firearms, dry cleaning, in-car computer, and other gear.

We provide a minimum of 10 hours a month of in-service training to each patrol officer. We strongly believe in providing top quality training to our officers. We have a new world class facility that features a 1.25-mile high-speed driving track, a 5.5-acre skid pad, a 21-lane 50-yard long firing range and versatile classroom space. 

Working as a patrol officer is one of the most rewarding and exciting jobs in the world. This is where you develop the skills that build a base of experience that allow you to choose the course of your police career. Our patrol division allows many opportunities for investigation, community policing, and problem solving, and many police officers decide to work their entire career as a patrol officer. However, if you wish to pursue the opportunity to join a special unit, we ask that you serve as a patrol officer for at least two years before you compete in a selection process for a special unit.