Federal Way Police Records
Police records in Federal Way are handled by the Federal Way Police Department, which serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the city and processes all public records requests under Washington State's Public Records Act. Residents, attorneys, and others can request incident reports, collision records, body camera footage, and other police documents through the department's online portal or by visiting in person at the City Hall campus on 8th Avenue South.
Federal Way Police Records Overview
How to Request Federal Way Police Records
The Federal Way Police Department maintains all police records for the city and designates the Civilian Operations Manager as its Public Records Officer. This is a different role than the City Clerk, who handles general city records. If you want police reports, arrest logs, body camera footage, or similar documents, your request goes directly to the police department, not City Hall's clerk office.
You can submit a request through the city's online Public Records Request Center, which is the preferred method. The portal lets you track your request status and receive updates by email. Paper forms are also available at City Hall during regular business hours. Requests can also be sent by mail, fax, or phone if the online option is not practical for you.
Contact details for police records: Federal Way Police Department, Attn: Civilian Operations Manager, 33325 8th Ave. S., Suite 101, Federal Way, WA 98003. Phone: 253-835-6700. Fax: 253-835-6739. After you submit a request, you will get a confirmation email with a tracking number. The department then has five business days to respond, either by providing the records, giving you an estimated timeline, seeking clarification, or denying the request with a reason.
The city's public records portal page outlines the full process and fee schedule. See the screenshot below for an overview of the Federal Way public records system.
The page above covers the city's full records policy, including which types of records fall under the police department versus the City Clerk.
Federal Way Police Records Fees
The Federal Way Police Department does not charge a fee for inspecting public records in person. Fees apply only when you request copies or electronic files. The current fee schedule is: photocopies cost $0.15 per page; scanning paper records into digital format costs $0.10 per page; electronic files are $0.05 per four files or attachments; electronic file transfer costs $0.10 per gigabyte. Mailing costs reflect actual postage and supply expenses.
Body worn camera video redaction is one of the more significant costs. The department charges $0.83 per minute of redacted video. This cost comes from the time staff spend reviewing footage frame by frame, applying redactions to protect exempt information, and conducting a secondary review. For large video requests, the department may ask for a deposit before processing begins.
Certified copies carry a flat fee of $5.00 each. If your total fees come to a small amount, it may still be worth asking whether the city will waive them for minor requests. There is no formal low-income waiver program described in the city's policy, but it does not hurt to ask.
Get a Copy of a Police Report in Federal Way
The city's FAQ page for police report copies gives a direct breakdown of your options. Online requests through the Public Records Request Center are fastest. In-person requests can be made at the police department at 33325 8th Ave. S., Federal Way. Mail requests should be addressed to the Civilian Operations Manager, Attn: Public Records Request, at the same address. Phone: 253-835-6700. Fax: 253-835-6898.
Once you know which method works best for your situation, the FAQ page gives a quick summary of what to include in your request to make the process go smoothly.
To get a report as fast as possible, include the incident number, the date it occurred, and the names of anyone involved. Vague requests take longer to process because staff have to search through more records to find what you need. The more detail you give, the quicker the turnaround tends to be. For collision reports specifically, check whether the Washington State Patrol holds that record instead, since WSP processes many traffic collision reports in Washington.
Criminal History and Statewide Records
For statewide criminal history, the Washington State Patrol runs the WATCH system, which stands for Washington Access to Criminal History. This online service lets you search for conviction records and other criminal history information for any person in Washington State. The fee is $11 per search. The database covers records from agencies across the state, not just Federal Way. This is useful if you need to check someone's background across multiple counties or cities.
You can access WATCH at fortress.wa.gov/wsp/watch. The WSP Criminal History Records page also has information about certified criminal history reports, which cost more but carry an official stamp. Those are often needed for legal proceedings or professional licensing.
Collision reports are handled separately. The WSP processes many collision reports statewide and charges $10.50 per report. You can find information on requesting those at the WSP collision records page. If the crash happened in Federal Way on a city street, it may be held by the Federal Way Police Department rather than WSP, so it is worth checking with both.
Washington Public Records Law and Federal Way
Washington's Public Records Act is found at RCW 42.56. It gives the public a broad right to access records held by government agencies, including police departments. Federal Way follows this law in full. The act says agencies must respond within five business days, though they can extend the timeline for complex requests by giving you a written estimate.
Some records are exempt from disclosure. Common exemptions include records related to active criminal investigations, personal medical information, information that would identify confidential informants, and records whose release would endanger someone's safety. The department must tell you specifically which exemption applies if it denies part or all of your request.
The Criminal Records Privacy Act, found at RCW 10.97, adds rules around criminal history records specifically. It limits what arrest information can be shared when charges were not filed or when a person was acquitted. Federal Way's police department follows both statutes when handling requests for arrest and criminal history records.
Court records from Federal Way Municipal Court, located at Suite 102 of the same building as the police department, are handled under a different framework. Court records fall under General Rule 31.1, not the Public Records Act. You would contact the court directly for those records. The court's number is 253-835-3000.
If you have questions about what records are available or how to request them, the MRSC resource on criminal history and arrest records is a reliable overview of how Washington agencies handle these requests. The Washington Courts name and case search is also useful for checking court records separately from police records.
King County Police Records
Federal Way police records are maintained by the Federal Way Police Department, but the city sits within King County. County-level records, including records from unincorporated areas and the King County Sheriff's Office, are managed separately from city police records.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Federal Way. Each handles police records through its own department or agency.