Frequently Asked Questions
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Hours of Operation
- When is the Johnston Police Department open?
The Johnston Police Department Dispatch and headquarters facility are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The administrative segment of the Police Department is generally open Monday thru Friday, from 8:00 am-4:00 pm.
911
- When should I call 911?
The Johnston Police Department advises people to only utilize 911 to save a life, stop a crime or report a fire. All other emergency calls can be made to (401) 231-8100. All administrative inquiries can be made to (401) 231-4210. Please DO NOT utilize 911 for directions to the Police Department or any other location within the Town of Johnston.
Reports
- How can I obtain a report of an incident?
Reports are available 3-5 business days after the incident occurred. You can respond to Johnston Police Headquarters, Monday thru Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm to obtain a copy. Printed reports cost $ .15 per page. Cash or Checks ONLY.
Accident reports ONLY may be obtained on the internet at www.getcrashreports.com (which is the preferred method of obtaining such reports).
- When can I obtain a copy of an arrest report?
For most arrests, reports are not available until a disposition has been given. Defense Attorneys may contact the Prosecution Division for active arrest cases needed for trial (401-231-4210, x3151).
- Can I obtain witness statements for a case that I’m involved in?
Witness statements can be obtained by subpoena only.
- When do I need to complete a State of RI Motor Vehicle Accident report?
The operator of any motor vehicle involved in an accident in this state resulting in injuries and/or property damage in excess of $1,000.00, is required to report this accident in writing, within 21 days, to the Divison of Motor Vehicles, Office of Safety Responsibility, 100 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI.
If the operator is physically incapable of making out the report, it should be made by the owner within 21 days of having learned of the accident."
- Where can I obtain a State of RI Motor Vehicle Accident report?
You can obtain a State of RI Motor Vehicle Accident report by going on the internet to the RI Division of Motor Vehicles website http://www.dmv.state.ri.us/.
Animals
Traffic
- How do I get a Stop Sign or Speed Hump installed in my neighborhood?
You must respond to the Town Clerk’s Office at Town Hall and obtain the proper paperwork. Once the paperwork is fully completed, your proposal gets presented to your local council person and gets addressed at a subsequent Town Council Meeting. If deemed acceptable, it will then be forwarded back to the Police Department for a traffic study, at which time our results get turned back over to the Council for approval.
- How do I get my child’s car seat inspected/installed?
Car seats are inspected/installed on an appointment basis. Contact Johnston Police Headquarters, and be transferred to the Traffic Division to make an appointment with a technician.
- My car was recently towed. How do I know where it is?
Each day a different tow company is used on a rotating basis. You may need to contact headquarters as to which agency was on call that day. If your vehicle was seized or impounded by the department, you must receive a release that is issued by the department before the vehicle is released from the tow company. You must contact the department regarding your particular incident to learn the particular procedure for obtaining a release in your specific case. The current tow companies on the Johnston Police Department’s active list are as follows:
Anthony’s Towing
21 Oakdale Ave.
Johnston, RI 02919
401-273-7373 |
Chuck and Sons Towing
35 Farnum Pike
Smithfield, RI
401-354-5300 |
Curreri Collision
2160 Hartford Ave.
Johnston, RI 02919
401-934-2700 |
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Scropio Towing
105 Railroad Ave.
Johnston, RI 02919
401-369-7500 |
Reliable Towing
1249 Plainfield St.
Johnston, RI 02919
401-480-1311 |
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Traffic Citations (Tickets)
- Can I pay my traffic citation (for example, speeding ticket) at the Johnston Police Department?
The Johnston Police Department does not accept money for fines attributed to Traffic Citations. Traffic citations can only be paid to the court identified on the summons, and only if the summons allows for it. Please refer to your summons and the phone number/address printed for the court that has jurisdiction over your matter.
- Where is the Johnston Municipal Court?
Currently the Johnston Municipal Court is located at 1395 Atwood Ave., Johnston, RI 02919 (next to the original Brewed Awakenings, across from the Burlington Coat Factory Plaza). It will be moving in the coming months to the former Mohr Library at 1 Memorial Ave., Johnston, RI 02919 (across from Police Headquarters on the corner of Atwood Ave. and Memorial Ave.).
- Who do I contact if I can’t make it to court?
You must contact the court where you are scheduled to appear. The Johnston Police Department has no contact with the courts regarding changing scheduling on behalf of defendants.
VIN Checks
- When do I need a VIN Inspection (aka VIN Check)?
If you have purchased a vehicle with a title from another state, or if you have a car that was previously registered in another state, you must have the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on your paperwork checked against the actual VIN on your vehicle to make sure the two numbers match. This applies only to vehicles ten (10) years old or newer.
- What do I need to bring with me to the police station to get my VIN Inspection (aka VIN Check?
If the vehicle is purchased within the State of Rhode Island, you will need the vehicle’s Title and Bill of Sale. If the vehicle is a transferred registration from another state, you must bring the current registration (from the State you are coming from) and proof of residency in Johnston. Vehicles over ten (10) years old do not require a VIN Inspection. You must also bring the appropriate amount for payment of the VIN Inspection fee in the appropriate form of payment.
- How much does a VIN Inspection (aka VIN Check) cost?
There is a flat fee of $15 for a VIN Inspection. Check or Money Orders ONLY.
- What is the schedule for VIN Inspections (aka VIN Checks)?
VIN inspections are done Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9:00 am-11:00am and 1:00 pm-3:00 pm each of those days.
Arrested Individuals
Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI)
- How do I get my fingerprints taken or a background check performed?
Fingerprints are taken by appointment only. The fees for fingerprint fees are as follows:
- Childcare/Daycare- $0
- Foster Care- $0
- Mental Health- $0
- DCYF Adoptions- $0
- School Employee- $36
- Adoptions from Agency- $36
- Massage Therapist- $36
- Fingerprint card only- $10
Contact Johnston Police Headquarters, and ask to be transferred to the BCI Division for scheduling. Background checks are performed by the Attorney General’s Office, 150 South Main St., Providence, RI. Contact their office for further.
- I have property being held as evidence. How can I retrieve it?
You must call and make an appointment with a member of the BCI Unit to retrieve your items from our evidence room if they are available. When you call, a member of the unit will advise you if the item can be released at this time, and how you may go about retrieving the items
Firearms
- How do I apply for a pistol permit?
Adult persons who are residents of the Town of Johnston may respond to Johnston Police Headquarters to apply for a pistol permit. The applicant must complete all mandatory documentation and fulfill all obligations identified in the application for approval. The application must be submitted to the Chief of Police for final review and approval.
Internal Affairs
- How do I file a complaint against Department Personnel?
The Johnston Police Department is committed to maintaining the highest moral and ethical standards in all facets of our role in public safety. With the goal of maintaining such high professional standards, the Johnston Police Department maintains an Internal Affairs Commander to investigate such complaints and allegations of members of our department.
Any person wishing to file a complaint may do so by responding to headquarters and formally speaking with the on-duty supervisor. You may also obtain a Civilian Complaint form, complete it and return it to the Internal Affairs Commander in person or by mail. This form is also located on our website on the Links & Forms page. (hyperlink to the “Links & Forms page once form is created and put on site)
Victims of Crime
- How do I obtain a restraining order?
In the State of Rhode Island, you may obtain a Temporary Restraining Order if your relationship with your abuser is considered “domestic.” Domestic relationships are defined as family members who are spouses, former spouses, adults related by blood and/or marriage, or who have children in common, household cohabitants who are minors and persons over 18 NOT related by blood or marriage but who currently live together, OR who have lived together for some period of time within the past three years (including boyfriend/girlfriend/same-sex partnerships), and dating relationships where persons who have, OR had within the past 1 year, been engaged in a substantive dating or engagement relationship (including boyfriend/girlfriend/same-sex partnerships).
You must respond to Family Court (Garrahy Complex in Providence) if you are related to the abuser by blood or marriage, you have children together, or if either of party is under eighteen and have had a significant dating / engagement relationship together in the last 1 year.
You must go to District Court (Kent County Courthouse in Warwick) if you and your abuser have had a significant dating relationship in the last 1 year, lived together within the preceding 3 years, and you are both over eighteen years old. Additionally, if you are a victim of sexual assault or child molestation, you may receive protection through the District Court no matter the relationship.
If your abuser is NOT defined as “domestic”, you must respond to Superior Court (Licht Judicial Complex).
Once at the proper court, you must fill out an affidavit, which is a sworn written statement about the incident or incidents that have lead you to fear for your safety and require you to seek a restraining order. The affidavit will be reviewed by a judge in your presence and the judge may ask you questions. If the judge signs the order, the order is valid for up to twenty-one (21) days. The abuser will then be served with the order by a Sheriff and at that point, the order becomes an arrestable offense if it's violated.
If you want the order extended beyond the twenty-one (21) days, you must appear at a hearing, the date for which will be put on the Temporary Restraining Order. Your abuser will also be required to appear.
Emergency Family Court restraining orders are also available (after court hours) through the on-duty shift supervisor of any local police department.
If you need more information about obtaining a temporary restraining order, please contact the station. For assistance in obtaining a temporary restraining order, or for any information regarding domestic violence issues, including stalking, temporary shelter, assistance in court, etc., please contact the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center 24-hour Hotline at 738-1700 or the Advocate’s Office in Kent County Courthouse at 822-6680.
- I know an offender that is currently incarcerated at the ACI. How can I check his/her status?
Victim Information & Notification Everyday VINE is a free 24 hours telephone service that allows you to check on the status of inmates in custody within the RI prison and jail system and allows you to register for automatic notifications whenever an offender's incarceration status changes. For more information click http://www.doc.ri.gov/victims/whatis_vine.php
Employment
- How do I become a Johnston Police Officer?
Currently there is no hiring process scheduled, however check back with the website frequently for further updates. We also advertise in the Johnston Sunrise, the Providence Journal, and other local newspapers.
When we do conduct a hiring process, we have recently required that you are over 21 years of age, are a United States citizen, hold a valid operator’s license, and have a minimum of 60 college credits, 2 years military service and/or 2 years prior experience. The hiring process is an intense, thorough, and extensive examination into a candidate’s physical, mental, and moral aptitude.
- How do I hire a detail officer?
Contact Johnston Police Headquarters and request to speak with the detail officer (currently Major Michael Colucci) to schedule a detail. Please have all relative information for your request ready at the time of your call, (i.e. time, date, location, number of requested officers, etc.).
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