Find Police Records in Frederickson
Frederickson is an unincorporated community in Pierce County, which means it has no city government and no city police department. Police records for Frederickson are held by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, and requests go through Pierce County rather than any local city office. This guide explains how to access those records, what types are available, and what to expect during the process.
Frederickson Police Records Overview
Frederickson Has No City Police Department
Many people search for a Frederickson Police Department and come up empty. That is because none exists. Frederickson is not an incorporated city. It is a community within unincorporated Pierce County, similar in structure to Graham and other nearby areas. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is the only law enforcement agency with jurisdiction here. All calls for service, incident reports, and arrest records from Frederickson are created and held by the Sheriff.
This matters when you are trying to get records. If you contact a Frederickson city hall or a Frederickson police department, you will not find one. Your request needs to go to Pierce County. The county processes all police records for unincorporated areas like Frederickson through its Public Records Officer and, for incident reports specifically, through South Sound 911.
South Sound 911 is the records coordinator for the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. They handle incident reports, call logs, and dispatch records. For other types of police records, such as investigative files or administrative records, the Sheriff's Department Public Records Officer is the right contact. It is worth contacting both if you are not sure which office holds what you need.
How to Request Pierce County Sheriff Records
Pierce County handles public records requests under RCW 42.56, Washington's Public Records Act. The county has five business days to respond to any request. In that window, staff will either provide the records, give you a written estimate of when they will be ready, ask for clarification, or deny the request with a specific reason.
To request records in person, contact the Sheriff's Department Public Records Officer to make an appointment first. The number to call is 253-798-4800. Walk-in inspection of records is available by appointment, which means you cannot just show up and expect immediate access to files. Calling ahead saves time and ensures the right person is available to help you.
The Sheriff's Department is located at 930 Tacoma Ave S, Room 1A-106, Tacoma, WA 98402. Mail requests can be sent to that address. You can also submit requests through Pierce County's online public records portal. Including as much detail as possible speeds things up considerably. Useful details include the incident number if you have it, the date and time of the event, the address where it took place, the type of call, and the names of people involved.
The page above walks through the full request process, including how to submit through the county's online portal and what to include to help staff locate the records you need.
Types of Police Records Available
The Pierce County Sheriff's Department creates and maintains several types of records for Frederickson and other unincorporated parts of the county. Incident reports are among the most requested. These cover calls for service and on-scene responses by deputies. Arrest records are also available, though they may be subject to redaction under certain circumstances, such as when a case is still open or when disclosure would harm an ongoing investigation.
Other records include deputy use-of-force reports, collision reports, and records related to criminal investigations that have been closed. Some investigative records stay exempt until a case resolves. The Sheriff's Department must tell you which specific exemption it is using if it withholds anything.
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, at RCW 10.97, puts limits on sharing arrest records when charges were not filed or when someone was acquitted. So even if a record exists, parts of it may be redacted or withheld under that statute. Knowing this ahead of time helps set the right expectations.
Collision records from roads in Frederickson may also be held by the Washington State Patrol rather than the Sheriff. WSP processes many traffic collision reports statewide and charges $10.50 per report. Their records page is at wsp.wa.gov/driver/collision-records.
Statewide Criminal History Records
For criminal history across all of Washington, the Washington State Patrol's WATCH system is the place to go. WATCH stands for Washington Access to Criminal History. It is available online at fortress.wa.gov/wsp/watch. The cost is $11 per search. Results cover conviction records from agencies statewide, including records that originated in Pierce County.
If you need a certified copy of a criminal history record, that comes at a higher cost and involves a formal request to the WSP Criminal History Records Section. Certified records are often needed for court proceedings, professional licensing, or other official purposes. More detail on that process is at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history.
Court records related to cases that came through Frederickson would be held by Pierce County Superior Court or a district court, depending on the type of charge. You can search for court case records at courts.wa.gov, which gives access to the Washington Courts name and case search system.
What RCW 42.56 Means for Frederickson Residents
Washington's Public Records Act at RCW 42.56 is one of the stronger open records laws in the country. It applies to all government agencies in the state, including county sheriffs. The act gives anyone the right to request and receive public records. You do not have to be a Washington resident. You do not have to explain why you want the records. The law places the burden on the agency to justify any withholding.
Agencies may only deny or redact records when a specific statutory exemption applies. They cannot refuse just because the records are sensitive or because the request is inconvenient. If Pierce County denies your request or redacts more than you think is justified, you have the right to ask for an explanation. You can also seek review through the Washington State Attorney General's Office, which offers a public records complaint process.
For a good overview of how law enforcement agencies in Washington handle criminal history and arrest records under the PRA, see the MRSC guide on criminal history and arrest records. MRSC is a nonprofit that helps Washington local governments understand and apply state law, and their resources are accurate and up to date.
Pierce County Police Records
Frederickson police records are maintained by the Pierce County Sheriff, as Frederickson is an unincorporated Pierce County community. All records, including incident reports and arrest records, are managed at the county level.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Frederickson. Each one handles police records through its own department or agency.