Moses Lake Police Records
Moses Lake police records are handled by the Moses Lake Police Department's Records Division, located at 411 S Balsam St, Moses Lake, WA 98837. The Records Division accepts requests by phone, email, mail, and online through the city's official form. There is no fee to inspect public records; copies cost for black-and-white prints. All requests fall under Washington's Public Records Act at Washington's Public Records Act, which requires agencies to respond within five business days. This page covers how to get police reports, criminal history records, collision data, and other law enforcement files from Moses Lake.
Moses Lake Police Records Overview
Moses Lake Police Records Division
The Moses Lake Police Department Records Division is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays. The Records Division is at 411 S Balsam St, Moses Lake, WA 98837. You can also mail requests to PO Box 1579, Moses Lake, WA 98837. For police-specific records, the email is mlpdrequests@cityofml.com and the phone is (509) 764-3887. Fax is (509) 764-3919.
The city prefers written requests submitted through the online form, but also accepts requests by email, mail, phone, or in person. When filing, include the date of your request, your name, mailing address, email, phone number, and a complete description of the records you need. If you know the title and date of the specific record, include those as well. The more detail you provide, the faster staff can locate the file.
The Moses Lake public records request page covers the full process and contact information:
For general city records that are not police-specific, the City Clerk serves as the Public Records Officer. General records go to 401 S Balsam St, 2nd Floor, phone (509) 764-3703 or (509) 764-3713, email publicrecords@cityofml.com. Keep in mind that police records and general city records are handled separately, and routing to the right office helps avoid delays.
Fees for Moses Lake Police Records
There is no fee to inspect public records at Moses Lake. If you want printed copies, the cost is $0.15 per single-sided page for black-and-white copies on 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 14 paper. That's the standard rate used by most Washington agencies. The city does not charge to look at records in person; the fee only applies when you want copies made for you.
Body-worn camera footage is a separate category. The Moses Lake Police Department charges the actual staff-time cost for redacting body camera video at the rate listed in the city's fee schedule. This is consistent with state law, which allows agencies to charge for time spent redacting footage to protect third-party privacy. If you are exempt under RCW 42.56.240(14)(e), the redaction fee does not apply to you. The City Manager may also waive fees for journalists gathering news for organized local media.
The city may require a deposit equal to ten percent of the estimated copying cost for large requests before it begins duplication. Payment can be made by cash, credit card, money order, or check payable to the City of Moses Lake, either at the Civic Center or the Police Counter. Records not claimed within the given timeframe may be treated as abandoned, so watch for notification emails after your request is fulfilled.
Online Police Reporting for Non-Emergencies
Moses Lake Police participates in the MACC 911 (Multi-Agency Communications Center) online reporting system. This allows residents to file police reports for certain non-emergency incidents without calling or visiting the station. The system is used by Moses Lake Police Department along with other area agencies. The non-emergency phone line for MACC 911 is (509) 762-1160.
Not all incidents qualify for online reporting. Crimes in progress and emergencies should always be reported by calling 911. For eligible non-emergency incidents such as minor theft or vandalism where the suspect is unknown, the online system works well. Once submitted, your report is reviewed by department staff. If further investigation is needed or they need more information from you, a Moses Lake officer may follow up by phone or email.
If you need a case number after filing a report online, the MACC 911 system provides one after submission. Keep that number in hand if you plan to request a copy of the report later, as it speeds up the records retrieval process considerably.
Criminal History Checks in Moses Lake
Statewide criminal history for Moses Lake residents is available through the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) provides online conviction-based records searches for $11 per search. Visit the WSP WATCH portal to search by name. Results cover all of Washington state, not just Moses Lake or Grant County.
For fingerprint-based or more formal certified background checks, the WSP Criminal History Division handles those requests. These are common when a licensing agency, employer, or court requires a certified result. Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act at RCW 10.97 governs how agencies can share criminal history data, including limits on using arrest records when charges were not filed or resulted in acquittal. The Moses Lake Police Department does not provide individual background checks directly to the public; those always go through WSP.
Collision Reports in Moses Lake
Crash records from Moses Lake roads go through the Washington State Patrol, not the Moses Lake Police Department. The WSP maintains the statewide collision database and provides access through the WRECR system. The fee is $10.50 per report under RCW 46.52.085. Officers take roughly two to four weeks to complete and approve a crash report before it enters the system.
Visit the WSP collision records page to request a report online or find a kiosk location. To locate the correct report, you'll need the date and location of the crash along with at least one name from the incident. This process works the same regardless of whether a Moses Lake officer or a Grant County Sheriff's deputy responded to the scene.
Court Records for Moses Lake Cases
Court records for Moses Lake cases are maintained by the Grant County court system. The Washington Courts name and case search covers Superior and District courts across the state and is the easiest way to look up case information by name or case number. Grant County Superior Court handles felony cases. District Court handles lower-level criminal matters.
Court records are separate from police records. They show judicial outcomes: charges filed, plea arrangements, verdicts, and sentences. Police records show what officers documented at the time of an incident. Both are public, but they are held by different agencies and requested through different processes. If you need both types, start with the WSP WATCH system for criminal history, the courts search for case details, and the Moses Lake Police Records Division for incident-level information.
The MRSC publishes helpful guidance on criminal history and arrest records access in Washington, which is a good overview for residents who are new to the records request process.
Grant County Police Records
Moses Lake police records are maintained by the Moses Lake Police Department. The city sits in Grant County. County-level records are managed separately by the Grant County Sheriff, which handles law enforcement in unincorporated areas of the county.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Moses Lake and handle police records through their own departments.