Since the formation of Sundargarh District in January 1948 the entire district was under one Police District with a Superintendent of Police as its authority until 31 May 1962. But after the establishment of a Public Sector undertaking at Rourkela and increase in population , the Police district another police district was formed exclusively for Rourkela and its adjacent area as Rourkela Police District on 1 June 1962. Since then two Police District have been operating in entire Sundargarh District. Later for better administration a DIG of Police, Western Range is posted at Rourkela who is to look into the affairs of Rourkela, Sundargah and Keonjhar Police District . Currently this office has also been upgraded to IG of Police.

Later keeping on view of the geographical shape and Maoists’ menace in the district the State Govt. decided to restructure both the police districts and in result ten police stations of Sundargarh Police District come under Rourkela Police District. Similarly two Police Out Posts under Rourkela Police District i.e Jhirpani and Chhend are upgraded to full fledged Police Stations in 2009.

Other than the police establishments, the Armed Police Reserve ( APR) Home Guard , Railway Police , Central Industrial Security Force ( CISF) , Central Reserve Police Force ( CRPF), State Vigilance , Central Bureau of Intelligence etc. units are at Rourkela.

To meet emergencies and to tackle the law and order problem in need , contingents of armed police are stationed at Rourkela and Sundargarh ( District Head Quarter) .Each unit has one Reserve Inspector with number of sergeants , Sub inspectors and other staffs. The Rourkela unit is stationed near Government ITI , Rourkela . This establishment has fully occupied with residential colony, schools, dispensary etc.

Under the stewardship of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) the Home Guard organization is set up at Rourkela. This consists of number of guards to assist the regular activity of Police. The head Quarter for Rourkela Home Guards is located at Sector – 3, Rourkela near Rourkela College .

The services of the Traffic Police are utilized at Rourkela Township is the first instance in the District of Sundargarh. The Traffic Police of Rourkela is headed by an Inspector with number of sub-inspectors, Habildars, Constables etc. The Head Office of Rourkela Traffic police is located at Traffic Tower near the entrance point of Steel Township adjacent to IG Park. The traffic posts are located at different central places of the city.

The only Railway Police station in the District is at Rourkela with a jurisdiction from Jareikela Railway Station to Sonakhan Railway station of Howrah – Mumbai main line of South Eastern Railway. The Railway police of Rourkela is headed by a Superintendent of Police called as Railway S.P. only of its kind at the District Sundargarh. The Head office of the Railway Police is located at Railway Colony, Rourkela.

Under the Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, Sambalpur Division the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, Rourkela is operative. The office of the DSP, Vigilance is located at Industrial Estate fo Rourkela near Government ITI. Other than this there is an office of State Intelligence at Sector-17 & Central Vigilance Sector – 18, Rourkela.

To look after the security of Rourkela Steel Plant and its establishments a battalion of CISF is stationed at Rourkela. Though the cops are directly under the supervision of the Commandant, but one DIG is also posted here. To assist the Commandant Deputy Commandant a number of inspectors along with number of other staffs the unit is functioning here. The main office of the CISF is at inside the Rourkela Steel Plant and a branch office is at Sector – 5 , Rourkela Steel Township.

With the increase of insurgency activity particularly by Maoists the Home Department of the Government of India established the 19th Battalion of CRPF at Rourkela with the Head Quarter at Sector – 5 trainees Hostel with the leadership of Commandant and Deputy Commandant. The GoI is planning to setup a full fledged CRPF Battalion Campus near Rourkela at Bisra.