Find Shoreline Police Records
Shoreline police records are held by the King County Sheriff's Office, which provides contracted law enforcement services to the city. Because Shoreline does not operate its own independent police department, all police report requests go through King County rather than through a Shoreline city office. The Records Division is physically located in Shoreline, but the public disclosure process runs through King County systems. Knowing which office to contact can save you time and avoid misdirected requests.
Shoreline Quick Facts
Shoreline Contracts with King County Sheriff
The City of Shoreline does not maintain its own police department. Instead, it contracts with the King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) to provide law enforcement services within city limits. This is a common arrangement in King County, and it directly affects how you request police records. You do not file a public records request with the city of Shoreline for police reports. You file with KCSO, because that is the agency that generated and holds those records.
The Shoreline Police Department lobby is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The physical address is 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133. While you can visit that location, the records themselves are stored at the King County Records Unit in Seattle. The local Records Division contact for Shoreline is Shawn Ledford, reachable at Shawn.Ledford@kingcounty.gov or (206) 801-2710.
For Concealed Pistol License applications, the Shoreline office handles residents of Shoreline and Kenmore on an appointment-only basis. That is a separate process from requesting police reports and uses different staff. Visit shorelinewa.gov/government/departments/police-department for current appointment availability and department contact information.
| Agency | King County Sheriff's Office (contracted) |
|---|---|
| Local Address | 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133 |
| Records Contact | Shawn Ledford, (206) 801-2710 |
| Records Email | Shawn.Ledford@kingcounty.gov |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
How to Request Shoreline Police Records
All Shoreline police report copies are held at the King County Records Unit in Seattle. The unit is located at the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Room W-116, Seattle, WA 98104. To get a copy of a Shoreline police report, you submit your request through the King County Sheriff's Office public disclosure page, not through the City of Shoreline.
The KCSO Public Disclosure Unit is at King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Avenue, Room W-150, Seattle, WA 98104. You can submit requests online 24 hours a day through the KCSO disclosure portal at kingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/services/public-disclosure.aspx. Online submission is the easiest option and allows you to track your request without making additional calls. The unit responds within five business days as required by RCW Chapter 42.56.
When you submit your request, include as much detail as you can. The case or incident number helps most. If you do not have a case number, include the date, approximate time, location, and names of people involved. A vague request will take longer to process because staff may need to contact you for clarification before they can pull the right records.
The Shoreline Police FAQ page confirms this process and explains what residents should expect. See shorelinewa.gov/government/departments/police-department/frequently-asked-questions for the current guidance directly from the city.
State-Level Records for Shoreline
Some records related to Shoreline incidents are held at the state level. The Washington State Patrol is the central repository for criminal history information in Washington. A WATCH background check through WSP costs $11 and searches the full state criminal history database. This is broader than a single incident report from a local agency.
Traffic collision reports from Shoreline are forwarded to WSP after local officers complete them. You request those through the WSP collision records system at wsp.wa.gov/driver/collision-records/ for $10.50 per report. The WSP main criminal history page is at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history/ if you need background information rather than a specific incident report.
The WATCH system is available at fortress.wa.gov/wsp/watch/. Results are name-based and search the WSP database, which pulls from courts and law enforcement agencies across the state. Results are typically returned quickly online after payment is processed.
Washington Public Records Act and Shoreline
Police records in Shoreline are public records under RCW Chapter 42.56. The law applies to KCSO the same way it applies to any other law enforcement agency in the state. Agencies must respond within five business days, either with the records, an explanation of why more time is needed, or a denial citing specific exemptions.
Common exemptions that apply to law enforcement records include active investigation files, victim identifying information, and juvenile records. The Criminal Records Privacy Act (RCW 10.97) limits access to certain arrest records that did not result in conviction. These rules apply regardless of whether the agency is KCSO or a city department.
If KCSO denies a records request related to Shoreline police activity, you have the right to seek review in King County Superior Court. Courts can impose penalties and award legal fees against agencies that improperly withhold public records. More guidance on how Washington law applies to law enforcement records is available from the Municipal Research and Services Center. For court records connected to cases that originated in Shoreline, use the Washington Courts name and case search tool.
King County Police Records
Shoreline is in King County, and KCSO handles all law enforcement for the city. The King County page covers the full scope of county-level police records, public disclosure procedures, and the sheriff's office public records portal.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities each have their own police records process.