Find Police Records in Des Moines
Des Moines police blotter records are maintained by the Des Moines Police Department in King County, Washington. The department publishes a weekly crime blotter with summaries of incidents, arrests, and law enforcement activity. You can find those blotter PDFs on the city website. For complete incident reports or certified records, submit a public records request directly to the department. Des Moines sits along Puget Sound south of Seattle, with a population of roughly 35,000 residents.
Des Moines Overview
Des Moines Police Department
The Des Moines Police Department serves the city along the Puget Sound shoreline south of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The department is the primary law enforcement agency for the city and handles all public records requests for police documents. One useful feature is the weekly crime blotter published on the city website, which gives a summary view of recent law enforcement activity without requiring a formal request.
For full incident reports or records related to a specific case, you need to submit a formal public records request. The department follows Washington's Public Records Act and responds to requests within five business days under RCW 42.56.
| Agency | Des Moines Police Department |
|---|---|
| County | King County |
| Website | desmoineswa.gov/departments/police |
How to Search Des Moines Police Records
The Des Moines Police Department publishes weekly crime blotter PDFs on the city website. These are a free resource covering recent incidents, arrests, and calls for service. They are a good starting point if you want a general overview of recent activity. Check the police department page at desmoineswa.gov for the current blotter archive.
For specific incident reports or records tied to a particular case, submit a public records request to the city. Include the date, location, and type of incident. Case numbers speed the search if you have them. The department uses the standard Washington State public records process and must respond within five business days.
Court records for King County cases, including those originating in Des Moines, are searchable through the Washington Courts case search portal. This is separate from police records but covers the same underlying events once charges are filed.
Des Moines Police Blotter and Incident Reports
The weekly crime blotter published by Des Moines Police covers a rolling window of recent activity. It typically lists incident types, general locations, and brief descriptions. This gives the public visibility into what is happening in their neighborhoods without requiring individual records requests.
Full incident reports contain more detail. They include officer notes, parties involved, and the complete narrative of what happened. Some information may be withheld under exemptions in RCW 10.97 protecting victim privacy or active investigations. What you receive depends on the nature of the incident and whether any exemptions apply.
Washington Public Records Act
Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) gives you the right to request police blotter records from the Des Moines Police Department. You do not need a reason. The law presumes records are open unless a specific exemption applies. Agencies must respond within five business days. Fees for copies are set under RCW 42.56.120.
Des Moines Police Department - Screenshots
The Des Moines Police Department website provides access to the weekly crime blotter, department contacts, and public records information.
The department page links to the crime blotter archive, community resources, and how to contact the records division.
The weekly crime blotter published by Des Moines Police gives a free summary of recent incidents and arrest activity in the city.
Blotter PDFs are archived on the site and can be browsed by date without submitting a formal records request.
King County Police Blotter
Des Moines is in King County. The King County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas and maintains county-level records.