Pasco Washington Police Blotter
Pasco police blotter records are maintained by the Pasco Police Department, which serves roughly 82,000 residents in Franklin County as part of the Tri-Cities metro area alongside Kennewick and Richland. The department processes public records requests under the Washington Public Records Act, and residents or other members of the public can request incident reports, arrest logs, and call data through the city's public records system. You can submit requests online, by mail, or in person at city offices in Pasco.
Pasco Overview
Pasco Police Department
The Pasco Police Department provides full law enforcement for the city. It is the primary source for police blotter records, incident reports, and arrest data in Pasco. Public records requests are handled through the city's public records process, which can be accessed online through the city website, by mail, or in person at Pasco City Hall. The City Clerk's office coordinates records fulfillment across all city departments, including the police.
Pasco is the largest of the three Tri-Cities communities and one of the fastest-growing cities in Washington. The police department handles a high volume of calls across the city's residential, commercial, and industrial zones. Submitting specific and detailed requests helps the records unit locate files quickly and reduces delays. If you have a report number or know the exact date and location of an incident, include that in your request from the start.
| Agency | Pasco Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 215 W Sylvester St Pasco, WA 99301 |
| Non-Emergency Phone | (509) 628-0333 |
| City Website | pasco-wa.gov |
Court records from Pasco cases go through Franklin County Superior Court for felonies or Franklin County District Court for misdemeanors. Those records are separate from police records and must be requested through the Franklin County Clerk, not Pasco PD. The statewide Washington Courts case search lets you look up filed cases by name or case number at no charge.
How to Search Pasco Police Records
To request Pasco police records, visit pasco-wa.gov and look for the public records section, or contact the City Clerk's office directly. The city accepts records requests online, by mail to 525 N 3rd Ave, Pasco, WA 99301, or in person at City Hall. Online or email requests are typically processed fastest because they can be submitted at any time and tracked through the system.
Be specific when you submit your request. Include the date and time of the incident, the street address or location, the names of any parties involved, and the type of record you need. If you have an incident or case number, include it. Vague requests that cover long date ranges or large areas of the city may require follow-up from the records unit before processing can start.
What helps get your request processed faster:
- Incident or case number
- Date and approximate time of the incident
- Specific address or cross streets in Pasco
- Names of parties involved
- Type of record needed (incident report, arrest log, blotter)
Under RCW 42.56.120, agencies must respond within five business days. The response can be the records, a denial with the specific exemption cited, or an estimated production schedule for requests requiring more work. Most routine requests for closed cases are fulfilled within that window.
Pasco Police Blotter and Incident Reports
A police blotter is a log of calls and incidents handled by the department during a specific period. Pasco PD activity covers calls for service, traffic stops, arrests, and other law enforcement work across the city. The blotter is a public record. You can request the incident or call log for a specific date range through the city's public records process.
Individual incident reports document specific events in detail. Each report includes the responding officer, the nature of the call, what was observed, and what actions were taken. Portions may be redacted if the case is still open, if the report includes victim or witness personal data the law protects, or if juveniles are involved. Any withholding or redaction must be explained in writing with a citation to the specific exemption.
Arrest records are generally public. They include the person's name, the date and location of arrest, the charges, and booking details. Once an arrest leads to criminal charges, those court filings go to Franklin County District Court or Superior Court and must be accessed through the Franklin County Clerk. The statewide Washington Courts case search provides online access to basic case data.
Body camera footage requests go through the same public records process. Video files require additional time for review and redaction. State law under RCW 42.56 sets rules for when law enforcement recordings can be withheld, and agencies must document their reasons in writing.
Washington Public Records Act
Washington's Public Records Act is at RCW 42.56. Every person has the right to inspect and copy public records held by government agencies. Agencies must respond within five business days. The response can be the records, a denial citing an exemption, or a production timeline. The law applies to the Pasco Police Department and City Clerk.
Agencies cannot charge for searching records. They can charge the actual cost of copying paper documents. Electronic records delivered by email or download are generally free or low cost. Any denial must cite the exact exemption that applies. General or unexplained denials are not permitted.
Typical exemptions for police records include ongoing investigations, victim personal data, juvenile records, and information that could reveal confidential sources. These exemptions are narrow. The default under the law is openness. If an agency chooses to withhold anything, it must show the exemption applies and put that in writing.
If Pasco PD or the city does not respond within five business days or improperly denies a request, you can file a complaint with the Washington State Attorney General's Sunshine Committee or seek relief in Franklin County Superior Court. Agencies that violate the Public Records Act can face daily fines for each record improperly withheld.
Tri-Cities Police Records
Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities metro area along with Kennewick and Richland. Each city has its own police department and handles public records requests independently. If an incident involved multiple jurisdictions or occurred near a city boundary, you may need to request records from more than one agency.
Kennewick is in Benton County and its police department handles records for that city independently. Richland is also in Benton County and has its own police department and records process. Franklin County, where Pasco sits, is separate from Benton County. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office handles unincorporated areas of Franklin County, while Pasco PD handles the city proper.
For incidents that crossed into federal jurisdiction, the Port of Pasco and the Hanford site area may involve federal law enforcement agencies. Those records would be handled differently and may require a federal Freedom of Information Act request rather than a state public records request. The Washington Criminal Records Privacy Act at RCW 10.97 governs dissemination of state criminal history data.
Pasco Police Department Online Resources
The Pasco city website provides information about the city, its departments, and how to submit public records requests through the City Clerk's office.
This is the main portal for city services and the starting point for submitting records requests for Pasco police records.
The Pasco Police Department page on the city site covers department services and contact information for the records unit.
The department page outlines how to contact the police, what services they provide, and how to get more information about records requests.
Franklin County Police Blotter
Pasco is the county seat of Franklin County. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated parts of the county and maintains its own records systems. For county-level blotter information and sheriff's office resources, visit the Franklin County police blotter page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Pasco. Each has its own police department and public records process.