Des Moines Police Records Lookup
Des Moines police records are maintained by the Des Moines Police Department and are open to the public under the Washington Public Records Act. The city's Public Records Officer handles all formal requests, and police records are among the most commonly requested documents. You can submit a request in writing to the Public Records Officer or directly to the police department. This page explains the process, what types of records are available, and where to find related state and county records.
Des Moines Police Records Overview
How to Request Des Moines Police Records
The Des Moines Police Department handles records requests for law enforcement documents. The department is located at 21900 11 Ave S, Des Moines, WA 98198. Phone: (206) 878-3301. Fax: (206) 870-7626. Email: police@desmoineswa.gov. You can submit your request by phone, email, fax, or in writing. The department processes requests for incident reports, accident reports, and other police-related documents. Including a case number, date of the incident, or the names of people involved helps staff locate records faster.
For formal public records requests covering city records generally, the City Clerk serves as the Public Records Officer. The City Clerk's Office is at 21630 11th Ave South Suite A, Des Moines, WA 98198. Phone: (206) 870-6519. Any person wishing to request access to public records from any city department must make the request to the Public Records Officer using the public records request form. The form is available on the city's website or in person at City Hall.
Under RCW 42.56, the city must respond within five business days. That response can be the records themselves, an estimate of when they will be ready, or a written denial with specific reasons. Des Moines is committed to handling all requests uniformly, fairly, and quickly. The city discloses all records not exempt under RCW 42.56 and any indexes it maintains.
Des Moines Public Records Request Process
The City of Des Moines handles public records requests uniformly across departments. When you submit a request to the Public Records Officer, it is routed to the appropriate department based on what you need. For police records, the request goes to the Des Moines Police Department. For city government documents, it stays with the City Clerk's Office. You do not need to figure out the right department in advance. Submit your request with a clear description and let staff direct it internally.
The city has adopted a resolution stating that creating a single detailed index of every city record would be unduly burdensome given the wide range of city activities and limited staff. This means there is no single searchable index of all available records. Instead, you describe what you need, and staff locate the relevant records based on your description. Being specific helps. A request for "all police records from 2020" is much harder to fulfill than a request for the incident report from a particular date and address.
Records are provided by inspection, electronic copy, or physical copy. Inspection is free. Copies carry fees per the state default schedule unless the city has set a different rate. For mailed copies, postage and handling may also apply. Staff will tell you what costs to expect before releasing records, so you can decide how you want to proceed.
Types of Des Moines Police Records Available
The Des Moines Police Department holds incident reports, traffic accident reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documents. Most are available to the public unless a specific exemption applies. Common exemptions include active investigation files, records involving juvenile subjects, and victim information in certain types of cases. When an exemption applies to part of a record, staff redact that portion and release the rest.
Fingerprinting for Des Moines residents is provided at the Police Department. These services are for official purposes such as job applications or license requirements. This is separate from the public records request process. If you need fingerprinting, contact the department directly to ask about availability and scheduling.
Arrestees from Des Moines are transported to the King County Correctional Facility. The city contracts with King County for jail services. If you need information about someone who was arrested in Des Moines, the local incident report comes from the Des Moines Police Department, while detention records and booking information are held by King County. You may need to contact both agencies depending on what you are looking for.
For statewide criminal history, the WATCH system at fortress.wa.gov/wsp/watch covers conviction records across Washington for $11. Local police records and statewide criminal history are two different things, and WATCH is often faster when you need a broad picture of someone's record.
State and County Records for Des Moines
Traffic collision reports involving state routes near Des Moines are available through the Washington State Patrol at wsp.wa.gov/driver/collision-records for $10.50 per report. The fee authority is RCW 46.52.085. For crashes on local Des Moines streets, the local police department report is the primary source. The WSP report may have additional data if the crash involved multiple responding agencies or a state highway intersection.
Court records tied to Des Moines arrests are filed in King County Superior Court for felonies and King County District Court for misdemeanors. You can search court case information through the statewide Washington Courts name and case search. Court records and police records are separate documents and are maintained by different entities. Having both is often useful when reviewing a case in full.
The WSP Criminal History Records section at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history covers how to get certified conviction histories for official purposes. Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act (RCW 10.97) governs what criminal history data can be disclosed and to whom. Arrest records that did not lead to charges, juvenile records, and sealed cases carry extra protections. The Des Moines Police Department applies these rules in the same way as any other Washington city.
Crime Reporting and Related Resources in Des Moines
Beyond public records requests, the Des Moines Police Department provides a crime map and online crime reporting options on its website. These tools are for community awareness and allow residents to see recent incident data in their area. Crime reporting online is separate from a public records request. If you want to formally report a crime or file an incident report, you go through the department's crime reporting process. If you want a copy of an existing report, that is the public records request process.
For non-emergency calls, use (206) 878-3301. For emergencies, always call 911. The department's website also has a "Report a Concern" option for non-emergency community issues that do not require an immediate police response. These tools are meant to make it easier for residents to interact with the department without needing to visit in person.
The MRSC guidance on arrest records explains how Washington law treats the difference between arrest logs and criminal history. Arrest logs are generally public. Detailed criminal history has more restrictions. If you are researching a case or a person, understanding this distinction before you submit a request will help you get more useful results the first time.
King County Police Records
Des Moines police records are handled by the Des Moines Police Department, but the city sits within King County. For county-level resources and King County Sheriff records, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Des Moines. Each handles police records through its own department or contract agency.