Tacoma Police Records

Tacoma police records are available through the City of Tacoma's Public Records Office, which processes requests for police administrative files, investigative records, photos, and body camera footage. Incident reports, CAD data, traffic citations, and 911 call recordings are coordinated through South Sound 911 rather than the city office directly. Collision reports from Tacoma streets route through the Washington State Patrol. Knowing which agency holds which type of record will save time when you submit your request.

Tacoma Public Records Office

The City of Tacoma Public Records Office handles disclosure requests in compliance with the Washington Public Records Act. The office can be reached at (253) 231-0240 or by email at publicdisclosure@tacoma.gov. Starting August 1, 2025, the City of Tacoma began implementing a charge for public records requests. Contact the office or check the city website for the current fee schedule before you submit a request, as fees may apply to copies, staff time, or both.

For Tacoma Police Department records specifically, use the Tacoma Public Records Request Center online portal. That system handles police administrative files, investigative files, photos, and body worn camera footage. Body camera footage from Tacoma Police carries a fee of $0.49 per minute. Before release, body worn camera footage is reviewed and redacted by the Body Worn Video Review Team. Redactions follow the exemptions in RCW Chapter 42.56. The redaction review adds time to body camera requests compared to standard document requests.

Tacoma Incident Reports via South Sound 911

South Sound 911 is the records coordinator for the Tacoma Police Department for a specific category of records. Incident reports, CAD reports, traffic citations, and audio recordings of 911 calls all go through South Sound 911 rather than the City of Tacoma Public Records Office. If you need one of these types of records from a Tacoma police incident, direct your request to South Sound 911 rather than the city office.

This two-track system is how Tacoma's records structure works. The city public records portal covers administrative and investigative files, plus body camera footage from TPD. South Sound 911 covers incident-level data, CAD records, and 911 audio. Using the wrong channel will lead to delays when staff redirect your request to the correct place. Look at the type of record you need first, then decide whether to go to the city portal or to South Sound 911.

For collision reports specifically, neither the city office nor South Sound 911 is the right place. Collision reports from Tacoma streets are forwarded to the Washington State Patrol and held in WSP's central collision report database. Requesting a collision report from TPD or South Sound 911 will result in a referral to WSP anyway, so go there first. WSP collision records are at wsp.wa.gov/driver/collision-records/ for $10.50 per report.

State Records for Tacoma Incidents

The Washington State Patrol maintains the central criminal history database for Washington. If you need a background check that covers full state criminal history rather than a single Tacoma incident report, WSP is the right agency. The WATCH public background check system costs $11 and searches the entire state criminal history database by name. Use it at fortress.wa.gov/wsp/watch/. The WSP criminal history program overview is at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history/.

All traffic collision reports involving Tacoma streets go to WSP regardless of which agency responded to the scene. WSP is the single access point for those records statewide. You do not need to know which department responded to request the collision report from WSP. Provide the date, location, and names of parties involved, and WSP staff can locate the report.

Public Records Law in Tacoma

Tacoma police records are public records governed by RCW Chapter 42.56, the Washington Public Records Act. The law applies to the city and all its departments, including the police. Under the act, records are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. Any denial must cite that exemption by name and statute number. Requesters can challenge improper denials in Pierce County Superior Court.

Body worn camera footage has additional rules under Washington law. Before release, footage goes through a review and redaction process carried out by trained staff. The process ensures that exempt information, such as footage of minors or content that could compromise a witness's safety, is removed before the public receives the video. This process takes time and is required by statute, so body camera requests take longer than standard document requests.

The Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW Chapter 10.97, governs criminal history record disclosures. Arrests without a resulting conviction have limited public availability under this law. Courts have used this statute to draw a distinction between an incident report, which can be public, and a formal criminal history record, which has stricter access rules. More guidance on how Washington law applies to law enforcement records is at the Municipal Research and Services Center. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs also has guidance on records requests directed to law enforcement agencies.

Pierce County Police Records

Tacoma is the seat of Pierce County. County-level records from unincorporated Pierce County areas and smaller contract cities are handled by the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. The county page covers county-level public records, South Sound 911 coordination, and the full Pierce County disclosure process.

View Pierce County Police Records

Nearby Cities

These cities near Tacoma each handle police records through their own departments and portals.