Police Department

The Morehead Police Department is a small, municipal police department located in Eastern Kentucky. The MPD is dedicated to serving their community with pride, service and integrity.
Before moving into their current building, MPD was housing in the old City Post Office, built in the 1930’s. After functioning as a Post Office, it later housed City Hall and Morehead Police Department.
Opening in 2022, The Morehead Police Department Building houses the city’s PD and 911 facility. This two-story building now holds, dedicated interview rooms, officer locker rooms, expanded evidence room, canine office, storm shelter for the public and a community room. Monthly City Council meetings are held in the Community Room on the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m.

News

Morehead-Rowan County 911 Center Now Accepts Text-to-911 Messages

4th Annual Armored Truck Pull- Saturday, May 17 Rescheduled for a later date.

Morehead Police Department Receives Grant from the Kentucky AG Office

Morehead 911 Earns KACP Accreditation

Join Our Team – Now Hiring a Police Officer and Telecommunicator (Dispatch)

The Morehead Police Department Building is open Monday- Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For emergencies please contact 911. All non-emergencies can call 606.784.7511.

Forms

Looking to apply with the Morehead Police Department. Please complete our application and return it to 309 W. Main St. Morehead, KY 40351.
Employment Application
If you have any questions referring to the job and qualifications please contact Srgt. Alex Hamilton at ahamilton@cityofmorehead.net

Applications due for Police Officer – Friday, June 13

Now accepting applications for a Telecommunicator- Employment Application
If you have any questions referring to our Telecommunicator position contact Karen Lewis, klewis@cityofmorehead.net or Kerri Johnson, kmoran@cityofmorehead.net

Applications for Telecommunicator are due Friday, June 6.

The Morehead-Rowan County 911 Center is proud to announce it has joined the growing number of agencies in Kentucky to implement Text-to-911 services, enabling residents to send emergency text messages directly to 9‑1‑1 dispatchers.

What Text-to-911 Means for You

Text-to-911 provides a vital lifeline if you’re:

  • Deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired
  • In a threatening situation where speaking could increase risk
  • Unable to make a voice call
  • In an area with poor cellular reception where text may go through when voice cannot

This service is an alternative, not a replacement, to calling 911. Voice calls remain the fastest and most effective way to communicate in emergencies.

How It Works in Rowan County

  1. Open your phone’s built-in text messaging app (SMS only – not third-party apps)
  2. In the “To” field, enter 911
  3. Provide:
    • Your exact location (address or landmark)
    • Type of emergency (e.g., “house fire,” “medical emergency,” “intruder”)
  4. Send the text
  5. Expect a reply within approximately 20 to 60 seconds. Continue answering dispatcher questions and follow instructions

Important Guidelines

  • Use plain language—no abbreviations, slang, or emojis
  • Do not send photos, videos, or attachments, this capability is not supported
  • Only one-on-one communication with 911. Do not CC or copy others
  • If Text-to-911 is unavailable due to carrier or location issues, you’ll receive an auto-reply indicating failure. In that case, make a voice call or use relay services if applicable.

To pay citations online, please follow these directions:

You may pay cash or credit card by coming to the Morehead Police Department at 309 W. Main St. from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday- Friday.

Schedule Hearing Date

  • If you are scheduled for a hearing, you must pay your citations at least seven days prior to the scheduled hearing date in order to avoid a hearing. If you fail to pay seven days prior to the hearing date, a judgement may be entered against you.

We are happy to announce the formation of the Morehead Citizens Police Academy. This program allows local community members to get an eye-opening experience of what our local police department encounters each day. This will be a 10-week program followed by a graduation ceremony for everyone selected to participate. Any community member over the age of 18 may apply for our first 2025 Spring Class. Every week a different topic explored. Topics will include: history of the city and department, Kentucky Revised Statutes, Special Response Team (SRT), Traffic Enforcement & Collision Reconstruction, Fire and EMT and Community Partners. The class will meet weekly on Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. with 2 Saturday classes.

Applications are closed at this time. Be on the lookout for future classes.

https://kspportal.ky.gov/civiliancollisionreporting

Any person operating a vehicle on the highways of the state who is involved in an accident resulting in any property damage exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) in which an investigation is not conducted by a law enforcement officer shall file a written report of the accident with the Department of Kentucky State Police within ten (10) days of occurrence of the accident upon forms provided by the department.

DO NOT COMPLETE THIS REPORT IF THE TRAFFIC COLLISION WAS INVESTIGATED BY A POLICE OFFICER.

If you have witnessed any suspicious activity or have information related to a crime, you can use the form below to make an anonymous report. Your identity will remain confidential, and you don’t need to provide your name or contact details. However, the more detailed information you can provide, the better equipped we will be to investigate the matter promptly and thoroughly.

Please refrain from taking any risks or actions on your own. Instead, use this form to report any suspicious activity that you have seen or know about.

If this is an emergency or a crime in progress, Call 911

Complete the Anonymous Crime Tip Line Form

Often times we have citizens needing to contact the city for a stray dog in their area. We now have plans in place to help assist in those occasions.

If someone has a stray dog in their neighborhood, they may contact City Hall at 606.784.8505 during typical business hours. The hours are Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If the dog is vicious or the call happens after City Hall business hours, a citizen may call the Morehead Police Department at 606.784.7511.

This only pertains to dogs in the city limits. We will not take in any stray cats.

The Rowan County animal ordinance requires all pet owners in Rowan County to license their Pit Bull dogs. Pet owners who do not comply may receive a citation.

https://morehead-ky.gov/pit-bull-registration/