Lewis County Police Records Search
Lewis County police records include incident reports, arrest logs, jail booking information, and other law enforcement documents maintained by the Lewis County Sheriff's Office in Chehalis. This rural south-central Washington county processes records requests through the Sheriff's Office Records Division, which accepts requests in person, by mail, and by phone. The office responds to all requests within five business days under the Washington State Public Records Act, and traffic collision reports are referred to the Washington State Patrol rather than handled locally.
Lewis County Police Records Overview
Lewis County Sheriff's Office Records Division
The Lewis County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for all unincorporated areas of the county. The office is located at 345 West Main Street, Chehalis, WA 98532, and can be reached at (360) 748-9286. The Records Division maintains all law enforcement documents including incident reports, arrest records, jail booking information, and civil process records. The office also maintains an online records request system, though the specific platform used may vary. Call the office directly to find out the current preferred submission method if you are unsure.
Lewis County is a large rural county in south-central Washington. The Sheriff's Office covers a wide area that includes small towns, rural communities, and significant natural terrain including the Willapa Hills and areas around Mount Rainier's southern slopes. Because of this geography, the Sheriff's Office sometimes coordinates with Washington State Patrol for collision reports and with other agencies for specialized investigations. This coordination can affect which agency holds the records you are looking for.
The Lewis County Jail operates at the same location as the Sheriff's Office. Inmate information is available through an online jail roster. Booking records including names, charges, and booking dates are public records under Washington law and are generally accessible upon request. If you need information about someone currently in custody, the jail roster is typically the fastest way to find it without submitting a formal records request.
How to Request Lewis County Police Records
Lewis County accepts public records requests through multiple channels. You can visit the Sheriff's Office in person at 345 West Main Street, Chehalis during regular business hours. You can send a written request by mail to the same address. Or you can call the office at (360) 748-9286 to submit a request by phone. The county maintains an online records request system as well, though checking the Lewis County website for current portal information is recommended since platforms can change.
When you submit a request, be specific. Include the names of the people involved, the date and location of the incident, any case or report numbers you know, and the type of records you are requesting. Vague requests slow down processing because the office has to come back for clarification. The Public Records Act does not require agencies to create new records or compile information that does not already exist. If you are asking for a specific identifiable report, include as much identifying information as possible.
Under RCW 42.56, the office has five business days to acknowledge your request. The response might be the records themselves, an estimate of when they will be ready, a request for clarification, or a denial with the specific legal exemption cited. Fees apply for copies. Standard paper copies are typically charged at $0.15 per page. Check with the office for the current fee schedule when you submit your request.
Traffic Collision Reports
The Lewis County Sheriff's Office Records Division specifically notes that collision reports should be requested from the Washington State Patrol rather than the Sheriff's Office. Under RCW 46.52.085, collision reports are often maintained by the agency that responded to the incident, and in many cases that is the WSP for incidents on state highways and major routes. The WSP collision records page provides instructions for requesting these reports, and the fee is $10.50 per report.
If the Sheriff's Office responded to the collision rather than the State Patrol, the report would be held by the Sheriff's Office instead. Call the Records Division at (360) 748-9286 to confirm which agency has the report you need before submitting your request. This can save time and avoid having to submit requests to multiple agencies.
Statewide Criminal History Records
The Lewis County Sheriff's Office can only provide records that are in its own database. For a comprehensive statewide criminal history check, the Washington State Patrol operates the WATCH system, which provides online access to conviction records for the entire state for an $11 fee. WATCH is the official statewide resource for public criminal history conviction data. It covers incidents from law enforcement agencies across all Washington counties, not just Lewis County.
For fingerprint-based background checks, which are more thorough and cover arrests as well as convictions, the WSP Criminal History Records page explains the process. These are often required for licensing, firearms purchases, and other official purposes. The MRSC guide on arrest records is a useful reference for understanding how Washington law treats criminal history information and what rights members of the public have when requesting these records.
Court records from Lewis County Superior Court and District Court are separate from Sheriff's Office records. You can search Lewis County court cases for free using the Washington Courts name search portal. For certified copies of court documents, contact the Lewis County Clerk's Office directly. The Chehalis Police Department also holds its own records for incidents within Chehalis city limits, separate from the Sheriff's Office.
Public Records Law and Exemptions
All public records requests in Lewis County are governed by RCW 42.56, the Washington State Public Records Act. This law presumes that all government records are open to the public. The agency has five business days to respond to a request. If any part of a record qualifies for an exemption, the agency must release the rest with only the protected portion redacted. Agencies cannot withhold entire records when only part of the record is exempt.
Common exemptions in law enforcement records include records related to active criminal investigations, information identifying confidential informants, victim and witness personal contact information, juvenile records, and records protected under the Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97. This last statute governs access to criminal history information, particularly records of arrests that did not result in conviction. If the office denies or redacts your request, it must cite the specific legal basis for each withholding.
If you disagree with a denial, you can petition the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for administrative review. If that does not resolve the matter, you may seek judicial review under RCW 42.56.550. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs provides guidance on public records procedures for law enforcement agencies that can help you understand your options when a request is denied.
City of Chehalis Records
The City of Chehalis has its own City Clerk and Police Department that handle public records requests separately from the Sheriff's Office. Chehalis City Clerk contact for records requests is at 350 N Market Blvd. Rm. 101, Chehalis, and can be reached at recordrequests@ci.chehalis.wa.us. For police and incident reports specifically from within Chehalis city limits, contact the Chehalis Police Department at 350 N Market Blvd. Rm. 201, or email chehalispd@ci.chehalis.wa.us. The city uses an online portal for submitting requests, tracking status, and downloading responsive records electronically. This is separate from the county's records system and applies only to incidents handled by Chehalis city police.