You’re sprinting down the Raccoon City Police Department hallway. Zombies are groaning behind a boarded-up window, and your ammo count is looking dangerously low. Then you see it—the heavy iron safe tucked away in the West Office. If you played the original 1999 classic, you might think you know the combination by heart. If you played the 2019 Resident Evil 2 Remake, you’re probably even more confident. But Capcom likes to mess with us.
The RE3 police station safe code is one of those small, frantic puzzles that defines the survival horror experience. You need the gear inside. You don’t have time to wander around looking for a memo while Nemesis is potentially stomping through the ceiling.
Honestly, the RPD section of Resident Evil 3 Remake is a weird bit of nostalgia bait. You aren’t playing as Jill Valentine here; you’re Carlos Oliveira. His mission is different, his firepower is beefier, but the puzzles remain grounded in that same police station architecture we’ve spent dozens of hours memorizing. The safe in the West Office is exactly where you remember it, sitting in that cramped side room surrounded by stacks of paperwork and the lingering scent of digital decay.
The Actual Combination for the West Office Safe
Let’s get straight to it because you’re probably paused in the middle of a run. To open the safe in the West Office (1F) during the Resident Evil 3 Remake, the combination is Left 9, Right 15, Left 7.
Don't mess up the direction.
In these games, "Left" or "Right" refers to the direction you are turning the dial, not just clicking a button. If you overshoot a number, you usually have to back out and start the whole sequence over again. It’s annoying. It's tense. It's classic Resident Evil.
Once you input the code correctly, the heavy door swings open. Inside, you’ll find a Hip Pouch. This is arguably the most valuable loot in the entire game. In a game where inventory management is the difference between life and death, two extra slots are worth their weight in gold. Carlos needs that space for assault rifle ammo and grenades, especially since he doesn't have the luxury of Jill’s lockpick for most of his trek.
Why the Code Might Feel Familiar (But Different)
Capcom developers are cheeky. If you look back at the 2019 Resident Evil 2 Remake, the code for this exact same safe was different. In that game, it was Left 9, Right 15, Left 7. Wait. Actually, it's the exact same.
This is a rare moment of consistency in a series that loves to shuffle its deck. However, players often get confused because the other locker codes and safe combinations in the RPD change between the two games. For example, the lockers in the locker room use different letter combinations. But for some reason, the West Office safe stayed static.
Maybe the police department staff just didn't have time to change their passwords between Jill's prologue and Leon/Claire's arrival? Or maybe it's just a "thank you" from the devs to the fans who actually pay attention.
The lore behind these safes is always tucked away in "Files." If you were to hunt for the solution naturally, you’d find a memo in the Dark Room (the save room under the stairs). It’s an internal police report basically complaining about the lack of security, which is a running theme in Raccoon City. The RPD is essentially a museum of bad security practices.
Navigating the RPD as Carlos
Playing as Carlos changes the vibe of the police station. When Jill is there in the original '99 game, it feels like a desperate escape. When Carlos enters in the Remake, it feels like a tactical insertion. You have an assault rifle. You have a punch that can stagger a Hunter.
But even with all that bravado, the RE3 police station safe code remains a priority because the RPD is a gauntlet. You’ll deal with Lickers in the hallways—those skinless, long-tongued nightmares that react to sound.
If you're trying to get to the safe, here is the best path:
Once you enter the main hall, head toward the west wing. You’ll pass through the Operations Room. There are a few zombies here, but they are manageable. Once you hit the hallway outside the West Office, move slowly. If you hear a clicking sound, that’s a Licker. Carlos can handle a Licker better than Jill can, but it’ll still eat through your health items if you aren't careful.
The West Office itself is usually a bit of a "safe" zone once you clear the initial room, but don't let your guard down. The safe is in the small private office toward the back left.
Common Mistakes People Make with the Code
Inputting the RE3 police station safe code should be easy, yet people fail it constantly. Why?
- Analog Stick Sensitivity: If you’re playing on a controller, the dial moves fast. It is incredibly easy to tick over to 10 when you meant to stop at 9.
- The "Confirm" Button: Some people think they need to press "X" or "A" after every number. You don't. You just rotate the dial to the number, then immediately start rotating the other way to the next number. You only press the confirm button at the very end once all three numbers are set.
- Directional Confusion: Left means counter-clockwise. Right means clockwise. It sounds simple until a zombie is banging on the door behind you and you start panic-spinning the stick.
What About the Other Lockers?
While the safe is the big prize, there are two other lockers in the RPD that require codes. These aren't "safes" in the dial sense; they are letter locks.
In the Third Floor (3F) hallway, near where you find the key, there’s a locker. The code is DCM.
Down in the Second Floor (2F) Shower Room, where the steam is blocking your path, there’s another locker. That code is CAP.
Inside these, you usually find ammo. Specifically, assault rifle ammo for Carlos. Given how fast the assault rifle chews through magazines, you really shouldn't skip these. The CAP code is a classic reference to "Capcom" itself, a recurring Easter egg that has appeared in multiple Resident Evil games.
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The Strategy of Inventory Space
Why does a two-slot Hip Pouch matter so much?
Resident Evil 3 Remake is significantly more action-oriented than its predecessor. You are picking up more gunpowder, more herbs, and more key items. Carlos doesn't have the "expanding" inventory that Leon or Claire had in the same building. He gets what he gets.
By grabbing the contents of the West Office safe early, you save yourself a massive headache later. There is nothing worse than finding a crucial battery or electronic part and realizing you have to backtrack across a hallway full of zombies just to dump a box of ammo in the item chest.
Expert Tips for a Nightmare Run
If you are playing on Nightmare or Inferno difficulty, the RE3 police station safe code is mandatory. On these higher difficulties, enemies move faster and hit harder. You cannot afford to spend an extra three minutes in the West Office fumbling with a dial.
- Pre-clear the room: Before you even touch the safe, make sure every "sleeping" zombie on the floor is actually dead. Knife them. If they don't move, they're dead. If they groan, finish the job.
- Don't wait for the prompt: You can actually start turning the dial before the UI fully "settles" on the screen.
- The Licker bypass: If you haven't killed the Licker in the hallway yet, walk—don't run—to the safe. Running triggers the Licker's aggression. If you move silently, you can get in and out of the West Office without ever firing a shot.
Final Summary of Codes for the RPD
To keep this simple and easy to reference during your gameplay, here is the quick breakdown of what you need for the Raccoon City Police Department section:
West Office Safe (1F):
- Combination: Left 9, Right 15, Left 7
- Reward: Hip Pouch (2 Inventory Slots)
Shower Room Locker (2F):
- Combination: CAP
- Reward: Assault Rifle Ammo
Third Floor Hallway Locker (3F):
- Combination: DCM
- Reward: Assault Rifle Ammo
The safe is the only one that truly changes your power level in the game. The ammo is nice, but those inventory slots stay with you for the rest of Carlos's segments.
If you're planning your route, remember that you won't be coming back here as Jill later. This is Carlos's one and only shot at looting the RPD. Once you head up to the S.T.A.R.S. office and trigger the next cutscene, the station is effectively "done." Grab the pouch, get the ammo, and get out.
Next Steps for Your Playthrough
- Check your inventory: Before heading to the safe, make sure you have at least one free slot. Even though the Hip Pouch gives you slots, you sometimes need a spot to "interact" with the item depending on your version of the game.
- Save in the Dark Room: The save point is right next to the stairs. It’s the safest place to reset if you accidentally pull a group of zombies into the West Office.
- Listen for the "Click": When inputting the code, listen to the sound cues. The game provides a distinct mechanical click when you land on the correct number, which helps if you’re playing in a dark room and can't see the numbers perfectly.