Auburn Police Records Search
Auburn police records are maintained by the Auburn Police Department Records Division and are available to the public under the Washington Public Records Act. The city uses an online GovQA portal to handle requests for incident reports, accident reports, and other law enforcement documents. You can submit a request through the portal, by mail, or by calling the Records Division directly at 253-931-3039. Auburn responds to requests in the order they are received and may provide large requests in installments. This page explains how the process works, what records are available, and where to go for more help.
Auburn Police Records Overview
How to Request Auburn Police Records
The Auburn Police Department uses GovQA to process public records requests. GovQA is an online portal where you create a request, track its status, and download records once they are ready. The city assigns a reference number so you can follow your request from submission to completion. If you need help with the portal, you can call the Records Division at 253-931-3039 or visit the police department in person at 340 E Main St, Auburn, WA 98002.
You can also make your request by mail. Send a written request to the Auburn Police Department Records Division at the address above. Mail requests take longer than online submissions since they depend on delivery time. Include your name, contact information, and a clear description of what you need. Be as specific as you can about dates, case numbers, or names involved. Vague requests slow the process down and may result in follow-up questions from city staff.
Under RCW 42.56, the city has five business days to respond. That response may be the records themselves, a notice that more time is needed, or a denial with reasons. Large requests may come in parts.
The Auburn GovQA portal at auburnwa.gov/RecordsRequest lets you submit and track police records requests online.
Auburn Police Records Available to the Public
The Auburn Police Department holds a range of law enforcement records. Many of these are open to the public unless a specific exemption applies under state law. Common records people request include incident reports, traffic accident reports, arrest logs, and body camera footage. Some records may be partially redacted if they contain information that is legally protected, such as victim names in certain cases or information tied to active investigations.
Incident reports describe calls for service and officer responses. Accident reports document traffic collisions and are often needed for insurance claims or legal matters. You can also request dispatch logs, case reports, and records from the police communications center. If you need criminal history information, that is handled through the Washington State Patrol WATCH program rather than the local department.
The Auburn Police Records page at auburnwa.gov explains how to request reports and what to expect from the process.
The city processes requests in the order received. If yours is behind a large batch, it may take longer than five business days. The GovQA portal will keep you updated on status changes. You can also call 253-931-3039 to ask where your request stands.
Auburn City Clerk and Police Records
The Auburn City Clerk serves as the Public Records Officer for all city records under RCW 42.56. For police records specifically, the City Clerk coordinates with the Police Department Records Division. That means if you submit a general public records request to the City Clerk, police records are routed to the Police Department for fulfillment. Either way, the GovQA portal at auburnwa.gov/RecordsRequest is the best starting point for all types of requests.
Records may be provided electronically through the portal, by mail, or for in-person inspection at city facilities. There is no charge for simply reviewing records. Fees apply when you want copies. The city follows the state's default fee schedule unless a specific rate is set by local ordinance.
The Auburn Public Records page under the City Clerk's office outlines the full process for all public records requests, including police records.
State-Level Records for Auburn Residents
Some records are not held at the city level. If you need a statewide criminal history check, you must go through the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system at fortress.wa.gov/wsp/watch provides background checks for $11. You enter the subject's name and date of birth, pay the fee, and get results quickly. WATCH records cover convictions and other criminal history from across Washington, not just Auburn.
Collision records from across the state can be obtained through the WSP Collision Records section. The fee is $10.50 per report. Visit wsp.wa.gov/driver/collision-records for details. These are useful when the accident occurred outside Auburn or involved another jurisdiction. For Auburn-specific crashes, the local accident report from the Police Department is usually the better choice.
Court case records for Auburn are searchable through the statewide Washington Courts name and case search at courts.wa.gov. This covers district and superior court cases.
Auburn Police Department Contact and Hours
The Auburn Police Department is located at 340 E Main St, Auburn, WA 98002. The main number is (253) 931-3080. For records-related questions, call the Records Division at 253-931-3039. You can also reach them through the GovQA portal. The department handles requests for incident reports, accident reports, and other law enforcement documents. In-person visits are accepted during business hours, but calling ahead is a good idea to confirm what you need to bring.
Auburn uses the Washington State Public Records Act as its legal framework for all disclosures. Under RCW 10.97, criminal records information is subject to specific rules about what can be released and to whom. Some juvenile records and sealed cases are not available. If your request is denied, you will receive a written explanation citing the applicable exemption.
Records available through the Auburn Court, including misdemeanor case filings, are handled separately from police department records. Call 206-257 for the court directly.
King County Police Records
Auburn police records are handled by the Auburn Police Department, but the city sits within King County. County-level records, including Superior Court case files and King County Sheriff records, are managed separately. For county-level resources, visit the King County page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Auburn. Each handles police records through its own department or contract agency.