Bellingham Incident Reports and Police Blotter
Bellingham police blotter records are maintained by the Bellingham Police Department, which serves approximately 95,000 residents in Whatcom County. The department publishes a Daily Activity Log online and handles public records requests through the City of Bellingham's public records process. You can submit a request by phone at (360) 778-8800, through the city's public records portal, or in person at the department. Washington's Public Records Act requires a response within five business days for all requests.
Bellingham Overview
Bellingham Police Department
The Bellingham Police Department provides law enforcement for Washington's northernmost major city. The department handles public records requests as part of the broader City of Bellingham public records system. The city's public records portal at cob.org/gov/public-records is the central place to submit requests. A valid photo ID may be required for certain requests, particularly those involving sensitive records or in-person pickup.
One useful feature of Bellingham PD is the Daily Activity Log. This log is published online and summarizes calls for service and incidents handled by the department each day. You can check recent activity without submitting a formal records request. The log is a useful starting point if you know roughly when an incident occurred and want to confirm that a report was filed.
For detailed incident reports, arrests, and other records beyond what the activity log shows, you need to submit a formal public records request. The city processes these through the public records office. Staff review requests, search for responsive records, and release what is disclosable under state law. Records involving ongoing investigations or protected personal information may be partially or fully redacted.
| Agency | Bellingham Police Department |
|---|---|
| Phone | (360) 778-8800 |
| Department Website | cob.org/gov/dept/police |
| Public Records | cob.org/gov/public-records |
| Note | Photo ID may be required for certain requests |
How to Search Bellingham Police Records
Start with the Daily Activity Log if you just want to see recent incident activity. It is published on the Bellingham PD website and gives a basic summary of calls, arrests, and events each day. No request is needed. The log is a public document that anyone can view.
For a specific incident report, submit a public records request through the city's records portal at cob.org/gov/public-records. Provide as much detail as you can about the incident. The date, location, and type of call all help staff locate the right file quickly. If you have a case number or report number, include it. Requests without specific details may result in staff asking follow-up questions, which can slow the process.
You can also call (360) 778-8800 to ask about records availability before submitting a formal request. Staff can sometimes confirm whether a report exists and give guidance on what to include in your request form. This is especially helpful if you are not sure which dates or locations are relevant.
What to include in your records request:
- Date of the incident
- Location (address or general area)
- Type of call or incident (theft, traffic stop, etc.)
- Case or report number if known
- Your contact information for follow-up
Most routine requests come back within five business days. Larger requests or those involving redaction review take longer. The city will notify you if more time is needed. Electronic delivery of records is available and is usually the fastest option.
Bellingham Police Blotter and Incident Reports
The Bellingham Police Department's Daily Activity Log is a key public resource. It shows the department's call volume and gives a summary of daily incidents across the city. The log covers a wide range of activity from minor traffic violations to serious criminal incidents. It does not include full report details, but it does show the date, time, type of call, and general location for each entry.
Full incident reports go deeper. Each report documents a specific call or event in detail. Reports include the narrative written by the responding officer, any witness or victim information (often redacted for privacy), and the outcome of the call. If an arrest was made, the report will include booking information. Reports can run from one page for simple calls to many pages for complex incidents.
Arrest records are public under Washington law. An arrest record includes the person's name, the date of the arrest, the charges filed, and the location of the booking. Once charges are filed in court, the case becomes part of the Whatcom County District or Superior Court record, which is a separate system from the police department files. You would contact the Whatcom County Clerk's office for those records.
Crime statistics for Bellingham are published in the department's annual report and submitted to state and federal databases. These figures give a broader picture of crime trends in the city over time. The department website links to these reports when they are published.
Washington Public Records Act
Washington's Public Records Act is found at RCW 42.56. This law gives everyone the right to inspect and copy public records held by state and local agencies. The City of Bellingham and its police department are subject to the law. Agencies must respond within five business days of receiving a request.
The law does not require you to explain why you want records. You do not need to be a Bellingham resident to request records. Any person can submit a request. The law covers records in any format, including paper, digital files, email, audio recordings, and video. You can request records in your preferred format if the agency has the ability to produce them that way.
Some records are exempt. Law enforcement records that may be withheld include active investigation files, victim personal information, confidential informant identities, and certain juvenile records. If the city withholds part or all of a record, it must give you a written explanation with a citation to the specific exemption under RCW 42.56. A general refusal without a legal basis is not allowed.
If Bellingham's public records office does not respond within five business days or improperly denies your request, you may seek help from the Washington State Attorney General's Sunshine Committee. You can also file an action in Whatcom County Superior Court. Agencies found to have violated the law face daily penalty fines.
Bellingham Police Department Online Resources
The Bellingham Police Department website includes the Daily Activity Log, department news, and links to the public records process.
The department site provides access to published logs and contact information for the records staff.
The City of Bellingham public records page handles records requests for all city departments, including the police department.
This page includes the online submission form, guidance on what to include in a request, and contact information for the public records office.
Whatcom County Police Blotter
Bellingham is the county seat of Whatcom County. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated areas and maintains its own records system. For county-level police records and sheriff's office information, visit the Whatcom County police blotter page.
Nearby Cities
Mount Vernon is a nearby city with its own police records system. Other communities near Bellingham handle law enforcement through county or regional agencies.