Access Wenatchee Police Records
The Wenatchee Police Department Records Division handles requests for police records, incident reports, and accident reports in Wenatchee, Washington. Police records in Wenatchee use a separate process from general city records, and requests must be submitted directly to the WPD Records Division by form, email, mail, or fax.
Wenatchee Police Records Overview
Wenatchee Police Department Records Division
The Wenatchee Police Department Records Division is the right place to start for police records in Wenatchee. The division is located at 140 South Mission, Wenatchee, WA 98807. You can reach staff by email at wpdrecords@wenatcheewa.gov, by phone at (509) 888-4200, or by fax at (509) 888-4219. Hours of operation for the Records Division are Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The division is closed on Mondays.
The Records Division processes police reports and is responsible for retaining and releasing incident reports. Staff review requests, redact exempt information, and prepare records for release. For requests involving body worn camera recordings, fees apply to help cover the cost of review and redaction. The city may require advance payment and the Chief of Police or a designee may waive fees of $2.00 or less.
Under the Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, the department must respond to requests within five business days. The response may provide the records, give an estimated date for fulfillment, request clarification, or deny the request in writing with specific legal reasons. You do not have to explain why you want the records.
How to Submit a Wenatchee Police Records Request
Wenatchee has a specific process for police records that differs from its general city records process. For any police records, reports, or accident reports from the Wenatchee Police Department, you must use the WPD Public Records Request Form. Do not use the city's general online public records portal for police records. The city's public records page explicitly states this and directs requesters to use police-specific forms.
To submit a police records request, download the WPD Public Records Request Form from the city website and either email it to wpdrecords@wenatcheewa.gov, mail it to Wenatchee Police Department, Attn: Records, 140 South Mission, P.O. Box 519, Wenatchee, WA 98807-0519, or fax it to (509) 888-4219. For accident or collision report requests specifically, use the Accident/Collision Report Request Form, which has a $10.00 fee.
When filling out the form, include as much detail as you can. Write the date and time of the incident, the location, the names of parties involved, and the incident number if you have it. Providing complete information speeds up the process. Vague requests may require clarification, which delays the response timeline. Once your request is submitted, keep the confirmation or reference number for follow-up.
General City Records vs. Police Records
Wenatchee separates its public records processes for good reason. General city records like building permits, planning documents, contracts, budgets, and meeting minutes go through the City Clerk's Office using the city's general online portal. Police records go through a different process entirely and must use WPD-specific forms submitted to the Police Department.
For general city records, contact the City Clerk at 301 Yakima Street, P.O. Box 519, Wenatchee, WA 98807-0519. Email is cityclerk@wenatcheewa.gov and the phone is (509) 888-3604. Sending a police records request to the City Clerk or using the general online portal will not start the clock on your police records request. Only submissions to the correct WPD records address count.
Collision Reports and Traffic Records
Accident and collision reports from Wenatchee can be requested directly from the Wenatchee Police Department for $10.00 using the Accident/Collision Report Request Form. However, the Washington State Patrol is also the statewide repository for Police Traffic Collision Reports, and reports can be ordered through the WSP collision records system for $10.50 per report. Either source may be appropriate depending on your situation.
The WSP system covers crashes handled by any agency in the state. If you need a report from a crash on a state highway near Wenatchee where WSP troopers responded, the WSP portal is the correct source. For crashes within city limits where Wenatchee officers responded, WPD's own form process may be faster. Both options are legitimate and both follow state law.
RiverCom 911 Records in the Wenatchee Area
RiverCom 911 serves as the regional dispatch center for the Wenatchee area. If you need 911 call recordings, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) reports, or similar dispatch records connected to a Wenatchee incident, those records are held by RiverCom rather than the Wenatchee Police Department. RiverCom accepts public records requests through its own process. Their public records officer is Kayla Hodges, P.O. Box 3344, Wenatchee, WA 98807.
Note that 911 recordings are generally retained for only 90 days. If you need a recording of a 911 call, submit your request as soon as possible. Once 90 days have passed, the recording may no longer exist. RiverCom will acknowledge a request for public records within five business days as required by state law.
Statewide Criminal History and Court Records
For a statewide criminal history background check, the Washington State Patrol WATCH system is the official source. The fee is $11. Results are typically instant. Access it at fortress.wa.gov/wsp/watch. WATCH covers criminal history from all Washington law enforcement agencies, not just Wenatchee or Chelan County. This is what most people need when a certified background check is required.
For court records from cases filed after a Wenatchee arrest, check the Washington Courts name and case search. Wenatchee cases would be filed in Chelan County Superior Court or Chelan County District Court. Court records show what happened after an arrest: charges filed, hearings, pleas, and verdicts. They are different from WPD police records, which only document the incident and investigation.
The Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, limits access to non-conviction records. An arrest that did not result in a conviction has restricted public access. Adult conviction records are generally available to the public. Agencies must redact protected information like medical details, bank account numbers, and similar sensitive data from records even when the bulk of the document is publicly releasable. If a record is withheld, the agency must tell you why and cite the specific law.
Chelan County Police Records
Wenatchee police records are maintained by the Wenatchee Police Department for incidents within city limits. Wenatchee sits in Chelan County, and county records for areas outside city limits are held by the Chelan County Sheriff's Office.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Wenatchee and handle police records through their own departments.