Common questions
Answers at a Glance
What is the non-emergency telephone number?
For inquiries about the Beckley Police Department, please call 304-256-1720. If you need information or non-emergency assistance from a police officer, please call 304-256-1700 to reach our dispatch center and have an officer respond to you.
I received a ticket. Now what do I do?
Citizens who have received either a parking or moving violation should contact the Beckley Municipal Court at 304-256-1719 if they have further questions or need to make payment arrangements. If you have been ticketed for a moving violation, the officer will set a court date, which can be found at the bottom of the citation. Appearance in court on that day is mandatory. Failure to appear may result in your license being suspended.
How do I obtain a copy of a police report?
The Records Division at the Beckley Police Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. You can obtain a copy of your police report as long as you are the complainant or the victim. There is a twenty dollar fee for each report. If you want a copy of an accident report, there is a three business day waiting period from the time it was written until it is available to you.
My car was towed. What do I need to do?
It depends on why the vehicle was towed. If it was towed for unpaid citations or for storing a vehicle on a city roadway, you will need to take care of the citations at the Beckley Municipal Court. If it was towed for improper registration or no insurance, you will need to obtain insurance and the correct registration before it is released. Once any citations or proper papers have been obtained, bring proof of ownership and picture identification to the Police Department. The vehicle will only be released to the registered owner. If the registered owner cannot retrieve it, they can write a notarized letter including their name, date of birth and address giving permission for another person to pick up the car.
How can I obtain a background check?
Background checks are available at the Beckley Police Department. It is a local check of any records found in our database. You must sign a release provided by the police department and present a form of official state issued photo identification. You may also have a signed release notarized giving permission for another individual to obtain the information. There is a $20.00 fee for this service.
I have information about a crime, or I know where someone wanted for a crime is.
For any crime in progress, call 911. It helps to give an exact location first, then details of the crime including, if possible, a description of the suspects and victims involved. If you have information about a violent felony crime or know the whereabouts of someone wanted for a crime, you are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 256-STOP. Callers remain anonymous. If your information leads to the arrest and indictment of a perpetrator for a violent felony crime, you are eligible for rewards of up to $1,000.
How do I check the status of a case?
Call the assigned detective or patrol officer. If you are unable to reach that person after several attempts and they do not return your call, ask to speak to the unit supervisor.
How do I find out whether I have a warrant?
You must come in person to request a warrants check.
Do arrest or bench warrants expire?
Warrants of arrest, which include both arrest and bench warrants, have no expiration date. They are cleared only when abated by death, or when a defendant appears before a judge in the court that issued the warrant.
I think I may be the victim of fraud or a con game. What should I do?
If you suspect a fraud or a scam has occurred in Beckley, do not be embarrassed to call the Beckley Police Department Detective Bureau at 304-256-1720.