Whatcom County Police Records
Whatcom County police records, including incident reports, arrest logs, and booking information, are maintained by the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington. The county also has multiple city police departments, with Bellingham being the largest. All county public records requests are governed by Washington's Public Records Act, state law, and must receive a response within five business days. The Sheriff's Office holds records only for unincorporated county areas and the Whatcom County Jail.
Whatcom County Police Records Overview
Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Records Division
The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Records Division handles all public records requests for law enforcement records from unincorporated Whatcom County. The office is located at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225. The Records Division maintains incident reports, arrest records, and booking information for the county jail. The Public Records Officer for Whatcom County is Mark Burnfield, CPRO, CPO, who can be reached at 311 Grand Ave., Suite B-04, Bellingham, WA 98225, or by phone at 360-778-5233.
The Sheriff's Office also operates the Whatcom County Jail, and inmate lookup services are available through the website for current detainees. For records requests related to past incidents, arrests, or bookings, a formal written submission is required. Requests can be submitted in writing, by mail, by email, or through any online portal the county maintains for public records. The office responds to all requests within five business days as required by law.
The Whatcom County Public Records Officer coordinates all county records requests. Submissions can be made online, by mail, by email, by fax, or in person. The county charges fees for copies under its published fee schedule. Standard paper copies typically cost $0.15 per page. Color copies cost $0.30 per page. Digital records and scanned documents have their own per-page fees. Large format documents are charged at higher rates. There is no fee for inspecting records in person.
City Police Records in Whatcom County
Whatcom County includes several cities and towns with their own police departments. Bellingham is the largest city and operates the Bellingham Police Department, which maintains its own Records Division separate from the Sheriff's Office. Other municipal agencies include Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden, Nooksack, and Sumas police departments. For records from incidents within any city's limits, you must contact that city's police department directly.
The Sheriff's Office does not hold records for incidents handled exclusively by city police. If you are unsure which agency responded to a specific call, try to locate the incident report number first. That number will usually indicate the responding agency. You can also call the Sheriff's Office and they can help direct you to the right department if they do not hold the records you need.
Bellingham is the qualifying city in Whatcom County with its own page in this directory. The Bellingham Police Department maintains its own records division and handles public records requests for incidents within city limits independently of the Sheriff's Office.
Types of Whatcom County Police Records
The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office holds a broad range of law enforcement records. Incident reports document calls for service and deputy responses throughout unincorporated county areas. Arrest records include the name, charges, and booking date for anyone taken into custody by the Sheriff's Office. Jail booking records track entry and release dates and the charges associated with each detention. Sheriff's reports, arrest logs, and incident reports are available through the public records process with legally required redactions applied.
Some records are exempt from disclosure. Active investigation files can be withheld during an ongoing case. Victim and witness information is often redacted for safety. Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, limits how criminal history data is shared. Conviction records are generally public. Nonconviction data, such as arrests that did not result in charges, faces stricter restrictions. The Records Division follows all state rules when processing requests and will redact exempt portions rather than withholding a complete document when only part of it is protected.
Statewide Criminal History Searches
For a statewide criminal history search rather than just Whatcom County records, use the WATCH system from the Washington State Patrol. WATCH provides conviction data, recent arrests with pending charges, and sex offender registry information across Washington. The cost is $11 for an online search. Access it at the WSP WATCH portal. Results are fast and do not require visiting an office or mailing anything.
The WSP Criminal History Records page covers all options for criminal history in Washington, including name-based searches at $32 and fingerprint-based checks at $58. Fingerprint checks are more accurate and cannot be confused by name similarities or common surnames. WATCH does not include records from other states. For out-of-state criminal history, contact those states directly.
Collision Reports in Whatcom County
Traffic collision reports in Whatcom County are filed with the Washington State Patrol, not the Sheriff's Office or city police. To order a report, use the WSP collision records page. The fee is $10.50 per report under RCW 46.52.085. The WRECR online system lets you search and purchase quickly without mail or an in-person visit.
If a Whatcom County deputy or city officer also responded and filed a separate incident report, that document is held by the responding agency. WSP and local law enforcement do not automatically share records. If you need both reports, send a request to WSP and a separate request to the appropriate local agency.
Washington Public Records Act and Whatcom County
The Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records from Washington State agencies, including Whatcom County and the cities within it. The law presumes records are public unless a specific exemption applies. You do not need to explain why you want the records. In-person inspection is free. Copying fees apply under the county's fee schedule.
If a request is denied, the agency must specify which exemption applies. You can appeal to the county's Prosecuting Attorney and then seek judicial review in superior court if needed. The MRSC law enforcement records guide explains how Washington agencies handle police records requests. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs also provides resources for requesters navigating police records in Washington counties.
Court records from Whatcom County cases are separate from police records. Use the Washington Courts name and case search tool to find case information by name or case number. Contact the Whatcom County Superior Court or District Court clerk directly for files not available in the online system.
Nearby Counties
Whatcom County is in northwest Washington and shares borders with several neighboring counties and Canada. Find police records resources for neighboring counties below.