Search Sammamish Police Records
Sammamish contracts with the King County Sheriff's Office for police services, so police records for incidents in Sammamish are held by the Sheriff's Office rather than a city police department. Requests for incident reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documents go through the King County Sheriff's Public Disclosure Unit.
Sammamish Police Records Overview
King County Sheriff Handles Sammamish Police Records
Sammamish is a contract city. The city does not run its own police force. Instead, it pays the King County Sheriff's Office to provide full police services. Because of this arrangement, all police records for incidents that happened in Sammamish are kept and processed by the Sheriff's Office, not by the city.
The King County Sheriff's Office Public Disclosure Unit is the place to go for Sammamish police records. The unit is located at King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Avenue, Room W-150, Seattle, WA 98104. They accept records requests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through their online portal. This is the quickest and most reliable way to get records. You can also visit in person during business hours or send a written request by mail.
When making a request, be specific. Include the date, time, and location of the incident. Provide any case or incident numbers you have. Names of parties involved also help staff locate the correct reports. The Sheriff's Office will respond within five business days as required by RCW 42.56, Washington's Public Records Act.
City of Sammamish Public Records Requests
While police records go to the Sheriff's Office, other public records for Sammamish go through the city's own public disclosure process. The city responds to requests within five business days. That response will either provide the records, give a date by which they will be ready, ask for clarification, or deny the request with a written explanation citing specific legal exemptions.
The city's Public Disclosure Officer can be reached by email at PRR@Sammamish.us or by fax at 425-295-0600. You can also mail a written request to Sammamish City Hall, c/o Public Disclosure Officer, 801 228th Avenue SE, Sammamish, WA 98075. There is no charge to request or inspect public records. Fees may apply for copies, scanning, or mailing.
The city sorts requests into four categories based on complexity. Simple requests with records that are easy to find may take 5 to 30 business days. More complex requests involving large numbers of records, third-party notifications, or legal review can take several months or even longer. The city will keep you informed of the expected timeline and notify you as records become available.
What Records Are NOT Kept by the City
Sammamish is clear about which records it holds versus which other agencies hold. This matters because sending a request to the wrong office causes delays. Police and law enforcement records go to the King County Sheriff's Office. Fire and EMS records go to Eastside Fire and Rescue. Water and sewer records go to Sammamish Plateau Water and Northeast Sammamish Sewer and Water District. Building permits issued before 1999 are held by King County's Public Records Program.
If you request records from the city and the city does not have them, staff will tell you which agency does. Knowing this up front can save time. For police records specifically, always contact the King County Sheriff's Office directly. The city cannot fulfill police records requests that belong to the Sheriff's Office.
Criminal History Records for Sammamish Residents
If you need a statewide criminal history record for yourself, the Washington State Patrol WATCH system is the official source. The fee is $11. You can access it at fortress.wa.gov/wsp/watch. This gives you a certified copy of your Washington criminal history. It covers contacts with any law enforcement agency in the state, not just Sammamish or King County.
For background checks that show court outcomes, you can search the Washington Courts name and case search. This system shows case filings, charges, and dispositions across courts statewide. Court records and police records are different things. Police records document the original incident. Court records show what happened after an arrest, including charges, hearings, pleas, and verdicts.
More information about how Washington law handles criminal history and arrest records across local agencies is available at mrsc.org. The Municipal Research and Services Center explains the legal framework in plain terms and is a good resource for understanding your rights.
Collision Reports in the Sammamish Area
Traffic collision reports for incidents in Sammamish are not requested from the city or even the King County Sheriff directly. Washington State Patrol is the central repository for all Police Traffic Collision Reports in the state. You request these through the WSP collision records system for $10.50 per report. This is true regardless of which agency responded to the crash.
Non-emergency crime reports can sometimes be filed online for certain types of incidents. King County Sheriff's Office accepts online reports for car prowls, vandalism, theft, and similar property crimes that occur in contract cities like Sammamish. Check the Sheriff's website for eligible incident types and the online reporting tool. For emergencies, always call 9-1-1. For non-emergency police assistance, call the King County Sheriff's Office Communications Center.
Washington Public Records Law
Washington's Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, is one of the strongest open-records laws in the country. Anyone can request public records. You do not need to live in Washington. You do not have to give a reason for your request. Agencies must respond within five business days and cannot stall without explanation.
Fees for copies follow a standard schedule. Paper copies are $0.15 per page. Scanned records run $0.10 per page. Electronic files may have per-gigabyte charges. For body camera footage, agencies can charge a per-minute redaction fee. If you believe records were wrongly withheld, you can ask the Attorney General's Office to review the denial or file suit in superior court. Washington courts take the Public Records Act seriously.
The Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, limits access to non-conviction records. Arrests that did not lead to charges or that were dismissed have restricted access. Convictions are generally public. Juvenile records have stricter rules under a separate statute. These limits apply whether you request records from local police, the Sheriff, or the state.
King County Police Records
Sammamish police records are maintained by the King County Sheriff's Office, which provides contracted police services to the city. Sammamish sits in King County, and county-level records are also held by the Sheriff.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Sammamish and handle police records through their own departments or contracted agencies.