Dispatch Databases
We provide downloadable CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) databases/text files. These files represent calls for service received by the Sacramento Police Department during the year, starting in 2006. See the information below.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE DATABASES:
- Because this data is produced via a complex set of processes, there are many places where errors can be introduced into the data that you will be downloading. The margin of error in this data is approximately 10%. Please keep this in mind when working with these databases. No representation is made or implied regarding the accuracy of the data being made available here.
- Copies of Crime Reports are available to the public. HOWEVER, you cannot obtain a copy of a Crime Report just because you want one. To obtain a copy, you must have a legitimate need for the crime report. In other words, you have to be a victim, one of the parties involved in an accident, an attorney, insurance agent, or some other agent acting on behalf of an involved party.
- The Police Department is providing this data for download under the assumption that you have the computer skills necessary to understand operations like unzipping compressed files, opening database files, building queries, creating reports for output to a printer, etc. The Police Department does not have staff available to assist you in downloading, using, or interpreting this data.
- It is against State law (Government Code Section 6254) for us to provide victim’s addresses for certain classes of crimes (mainly rape, sex or abuse-related crimes). Since the address field in the databases is usually that of the victim, it has been blanked out for the affected crime types. You can still research activity for those types of crimes, but location information will be limited to district, beat, or grid. This applies to the following crimes:
- 220 – Attempted Rape
- 261 – Rape
- 262 – Rape
- 264 – Rape
- 273 – Domestic Violence/ Child Neglect
- 286 – Sodomy
- 288 – Other Sex Crimes
- 289 – Other Sex Crimes
- 422 – Terrorist Threats
- 646.9 – Stalking
- We began using a new Records Management System (RMS) in February, 2004. This system manages all crime and incident reports for the Police Department. As a result, our databases have a different format when compared to previous years. The biggest difference you'll notice is how the reports are classified: we now use a combination of FBI UCR (Uniform Crime Report) codes and State codes. See the below links for code definitions.
- Most law enforcement agencies have pre-defined areas for assignment and reporting purposes. For many years, the Sacramento Police Department has named these areas Sectors, Districts, and EDP's (Electronic Data Processing districts). In 2006, these areas were renamed. Sectors are now called Districts, Districts are now called Beats, and EDP’s are called Grids. Districts are the largest of the areas; the City is divided into 6 Districts. The Districts are divided into Beats, which are assigned to Patrol officers. The Beats are divided into Grids for reporting purposes. Over the years, the various boundaries have changed, but the Grids have not changed significantly. As confusing as this all sounds, this information will be necessary if you need to work with the databases. See the link below for the 2006 boundary map.
Code Definitions
State Crime Code and SPD Alpha Code List: (PDF) Version
Searchable State Codes: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
Federal UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) Offense Codes/Classifications: (PDF) Version
For more information about the UCR: : http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm
City of Sacramento Downloadable Map:
You can download a city map showing the major streets and EDP districts\Grids HERE.
You can download a city map showing neighborhoods,districts, and beats HERE.
Overview:
The basic process for using these databases is:
- Right click on the link for database you want to download.
- Select "Save target as...."
- In the "Save As" dialogue box, select a location on your PC to save the file, then click "Save".
- Download the supporting information: code list, definition lists, etc., if desired.
- Once downloaded to your PC, the database will need to be "unzipped" (decompressed) before you can use it. Windows should already be able to unzip the file when you double click on it. If not, there are several programs available on the Internet that will work.
- Once unzipped, open the database using the appropriate program from your computer (i.e., Microsoft Access, Excel, FoxPro, etc.).
Crime Report Databases (.dbf Format)
1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004* | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008**
Crime Report Databases – Delimited Text Files (.txt Format using comma delimited)
1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004* | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008**
* Due to the RMS change, 2004 data is split into two databases.
** Files may not contain the entire year at this time.
- All calls for service are included in the databases, from routine noise disturbance calls to Homicides, with the following exceptions: calls involving confidential information, such as sex crimes, child abuse, and spousal abuse have had their addresses blanked. Some calls have been removed entirely from the database if they have been deemed to be of an extremely sensitive nature. Also, some internal administrative calls have been removed as well (i.e., phone messages).
- The "Priority" field indicates a call’s priority based on the nature of the information received at the time it was dispatched. The lower the priority number, the more urgent the call.
- Not all calls will require the response of a police officer. An example is an "All Units Broadcast" – on these calls, the dispatcher will notify officers via radio of the information in the call, but usually will not send units.
- CAD data does not necessarily equate with criminal activity. Throughout the day, officers respond to calls which don’t meet the criteria of a crime report. Disturbance calls, keep the peace calls, subject stops and ringing alarm calls are examples of calls that don’t result in a crime report in the majority of cases. Even some calls which seem to indicate a specific crime, petty theft for example, can be cleared without a crime report, if the responding officer determines the circumstances don’t meet the crime’s criteria. To get a clearer picture of crime, you must research the Crime Report databases.
- When you see the letters "UI" in the District, Beat, or Grid fields, that means the call originated outside of the City limits.
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