Player support / FIELD NOTE 07

Police Chief Simulator troubleshooting: crashes, saves & stuck tasks

Official hotfixes + troubleshootingReviewed October 15, 2026

THE SHORT ANSWER

For Police Chief Simulator crashes or stuck tasks, first install pending Steam updates and identify the symptom. The developer has documented both gameplay fixes and a temporary cache-file workaround for crashes while loading saves. Use the matching section below; do not delete your save folder.

Start with the symptom you can reproduce

These notes cover the full Windows game. Check the complete title in your Steam Library before applying them: Demo and Prologue patches use their own numbering. Full-game Hotfix #8 is a different update from Prologue Hotfix #8.

What happens?	Start here
The game will not start or closes before the menu	Installation and launch checks
The menu works, but loading a save crashes	Developer cache workaround
A patrol, detective or objective stops progressing	Known gameplay issues
A prisoner blocks the police van	Prisoner transport checks

Write down the last action before the failure. “Crashes after choosing Continue” gives a much clearer starting point than “not working.”

Police Chief Simulator not launching: first checks

Finish pending updates. Close the game and check Steam Downloads. Let the installation complete before testing again.
Restart once. Restart Steam and Windows, then launch the game from its Library entry. Note whether you reach the main menu.
Verify the installation. Right-click the game in Steam → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files. Let Steam finish checking and downloading replacements.
Compare your hardware with the current listing. Use the full-game system requirements rather than specifications for the Prologue. Record your CPU, GPU, RAM and Windows version if you need help.

The file-verification procedure comes from Steam Support. It checks installed game files; it does not establish that a save or a gameplay bug has been repaired. Test after each change so you can tell which step affected the result.

Avoid downloading replacement DLLs or unofficial “crash fix” executables. An error message naming a file is useful evidence for support, not proof that a random replacement is safe or appropriate.

Crashing while loading a save: the official temporary workaround

In full-game Hotfix #8, the developer repeats a temporary workaround for crashes during save loading: remove one named pipeline-cache file, then relaunch. This is specific to that symptom, not a general instruction to clear your game data.

Close Police Chief Simulator.
Press Windows + R, enter %LOCALAPPDATA%/PoliceChiefSimulator/Saved, and open the folder.
As a precaution, copy the folder to a separate backup location before making changes.
Locate exactly PoliceChiefSimulator_PCD3D_SM6.upipelinecache. The developer instructs players to delete this file only. Keep your backup.
Launch the game again and try loading the affected save.

Do not delete the Saved folder or any save files. If the named file is absent, stop this procedure; do not substitute another file. If the crash persists, record the error and report it. The announcement describes a temporary workaround, and we have not independently tested it.

Stuck patrols, detectives and objectives: match the patch

The following are developer-reported fixes. Install available updates first, then check the same situation again. A patch note does not promise that every existing save with a similar symptom will recover.

Symptom	Relevant official note	If it continues
Patrols stay out or stop moving	Hotfix #1 addresses returning and stuck patrols.	Record the assignment, map location and whether it began before the update.
Detective cannot continue work	Hotfix #1 addresses access to the fax or shredder; Hotfix #4 addresses ignored case shelves.	Capture the worker, nearby objects and case location.
Interactions stop after loading	Hotfix #5 addresses a rare post-load interaction issue.	Note whether all interactions fail or only one object.
The expanded-case delivery objective does not advance	Hotfix #8 addresses use of the case from the Documents Box.	Include the exact objective text and where you took the case from.
Armory items duplicate or are not recognized	Update #2, September 30 reports armory and duplication fixes, superseding the September 19 “work continues” note.	Record the item, container and build if the issue survives the update.

Prisoners, the van and repeated power outages

If a prisoner leaves the cells but blocks the police van, check Hotfix #5 and our registration and transport guide. Separate incomplete registration from an NPC that cannot move; they need different evidence.

For blackouts, distinguish capacity from a possible bug. The Power Up developer preview describes transformer capacity as a limit on expansion. Hotfix #5 also addresses an electricity-accumulation issue. Record the displayed demand and capacity, and whether the outage follows an expansion or develops without a new purchase.

What to include in a useful bug report

Post in the developer’s full-game feedback thread. For the free introduction, use the Prologue community instead. Copy this template and replace each field:

Edition / build: Full game, Demo or Prologue; version if shown; date of last update.

Symptom / objective: Exact error or task text.

Steps: Load which save → interact with which object → what happens.

Expected / actual: What you expected and what occurred.

Checks already tried: Updating, file verification, or the named cache workaround; result of each.

PC / evidence: Windows version, CPU, GPU, RAM and a screenshot or short clip.

For Police Chief Simulator troubleshooting, identifying the failing stage is more useful than repeatedly reinstalling. Keep a copy of your save before further recovery attempts.

Troubleshooting FAQ

Should I delete all my saves to fix a crash?

No. The official workaround above names a single cache file. It does not instruct you to delete saves, and this guide does not establish that your save is corrupt.

Does verifying files fix stuck objectives?

It can replace missing or damaged installation files. A task-logic issue may need an update or developer investigation; check the patch table first.

Can I apply Prologue fixes to the full game?

Only when the developer explicitly says they apply. Match the game edition as well as the patch number, particularly for save or file instructions.

October fixes: choose your symptom

Use this full-game index to decide which action to test after updating. These are developer-reported changes, not guaranteed save repairs. All results remain readable without JavaScript.

Filter by problem

Detective stops / board does not refresh

Patch #31 addresses detective continuation; Patch #33 addresses Briefing Board item and worker refresh. Note the case and last worker action, then check the dispatch stage.

Employee stuck at reception

Update #7 reports a reception pathing fix. Capture the worker and location if it persists after updating; avoid treating every idle employee as the same fault.

Vehicle is missing or stranded

Open the Vehicles App on the upstairs Sheriff’s Office computer after Update #7. Inspect its location and reset option. The announcement does not verify cargo or passenger preservation during reset.

Taser blocked / pistol ammo will not change

Patch #32 fixes Taser firearm classification; Patch #34 addresses pistol ammo switching. Match the equipment and symptom before changing your loadout.

Screen remains stuck with eyes closed

Patch #34 reports an eye-closing screen fix. Update first. If it recurs, record the action immediately before the screen changed.

Siren switches off when leaving the car

Update #7 makes this a Settings → Gameplay option. Lights and siren now have separate controls under Settings → Controls, default K and P. Check rebinding before diagnosing a fault.

CHECK THE EVIDENCE

Sources & verification

Reviewed on October 15, 2026. Official sources checked October 15, 2026. Practical checklists are editorial guidance; this site has not independently playtested the game. Historical Demo and Prologue evidence is labeled separately.