Pullman Police Blotter Records

Pullman police blotter records are maintained by the Pullman Police Department, which serves around 36,000 residents in Whitman County, including a large Washington State University student population. The department processes public records requests under the Washington Public Records Act. Pullman also has Washington State University Police (WSUOPD), which is a separate agency that patrols the WSU campus and maintains its own records. Depending on where an incident occurred, the relevant agency may be Pullman PD, WSUOPD, or the Whitman County Sheriff's Office.

Pullman Police Department

The Pullman Police Department handles law enforcement for the city outside the WSU campus. It is the primary source for police blotter records and incident reports involving city streets, neighborhoods, and commercial areas. Public records requests go through the City of Pullman. You can submit requests online through the city's public records portal, by mail, or in person at City Hall.

The city's public records process covers all city departments including the police. When submitting a request, include the date, location, and type of record you need. Having a case or incident number makes things faster. For incidents on the WSU campus, the WSU Office of Police (WSUOPD) is the relevant agency and handles its own records requests separately. WSUOPD is a state law enforcement agency with jurisdiction on campus.

Pullman City Hall is on NW Olsen Street. The police department building is on SE Paradise Street, a short distance from campus. The records unit handles requests during business hours, but online submissions can be made at any time. Whitman County Sheriff's Office handles unincorporated Whitman County outside city limits.

Washington State University Police Records

Washington State University has its own campus police department, WSUOPD, which operates independently from Pullman PD. The two agencies have separate jurisdiction. Pullman PD covers city streets and public areas within the city. WSUOPD covers the WSU campus, including dormitories, academic buildings, parking lots, and other campus property.

If an incident happened on campus, you request records from WSUOPD, not from Pullman PD. WSUOPD is subject to the Washington Public Records Act just like any other state law enforcement agency. You can contact WSUOPD at police.wsu.edu or call the non-emergency line for assistance with records requests. Requests should include the date, location on campus, and any case number if known.

Pullman PD and WSUOPD do coordinate on incidents that span both jurisdictions. In those cases, both agencies may hold relevant records. You may need to submit separate requests to each agency to get all the documents you need. The two agencies are legally distinct and one cannot produce records held only by the other.

For incidents involving alleged criminal activity by WSU students or staff, there may also be university disciplinary records under FERPA. Those are not public records and are handled separately through the university's student conduct office.

Pullman Police Blotter and Incident Reports

The Pullman Police Department maintains records for all law enforcement activity within city limits. This includes calls for service, traffic stops, arrests, and investigations. The blotter is a public record. You can request the call or incident log for a specific date range through the city's public records process under RCW 42.56.

Individual incident reports go into more detail than the blotter. Each one covers a specific event, the officers who responded, what they found, and what was done. Some sections may be redacted if the investigation is ongoing, if the report contains victim or witness personal information the law protects, or if juveniles are involved. Any redaction must be explained in writing with a specific statutory citation.

Arrest records in Pullman are generally public. They list the person's name, arrest date and location, charges, and booking information. Once charges are filed, the court case goes to Whitman County District Court for misdemeanors or Whitman County Superior Court for felonies. Those court records must be accessed through the Whitman County Clerk. The statewide Washington Courts case search provides online access to case filings.

Body camera footage requests go through the same public records process but require more time for video review and redaction. State law sets rules for when law enforcement video can be withheld.

Washington Public Records Act

Washington's Public Records Act is codified at RCW 42.56. Every person has the right to inspect and copy public records. Agencies must respond within five business days with the records, a denial citing a specific exemption, or a production timeline. This applies to Pullman PD, WSUOPD, and the Whitman County Sheriff's Office.

Agencies cannot charge a search fee. They can charge for the actual cost of copying physical records. Electronic records are usually free or low cost. Any denial must cite the exact statutory exemption. General or unexplained denials are not permitted under the law.

Typical exemptions for police records include ongoing investigations, victim personal data, juvenile records, and information that could expose a confidential informant. These are narrow. The default under the law is that records are open. The agency must prove an exemption applies before withholding anything.

Court Records for Pullman Cases

Criminal cases from Pullman arrests are filed in Whitman County District Court for misdemeanors or Whitman County Superior Court for felonies. Both courts are in Colfax, the county seat. Court records are separate from police records and must be accessed through the Whitman County Clerk, not Pullman PD. The statewide Washington Courts case search lets you look up filed cases by name or case number from any computer.

Court records include charging documents, hearing dates, plea and sentencing information, and final dispositions. Most are public unless the case has been sealed by the court. Certified copies of specific documents are available from the county clerk for a small fee. For cases involving juveniles, access may be restricted under state law.

Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act at RCW 10.97 governs how state criminal history records are shared and applies mainly to compiled background check data, not individual incident reports from city police.

Pullman Police and Public Records Resources

The Washington State Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) governs how all agencies including Pullman PD and WSUOPD handle public records requests.

This law sets the five-day response requirement, the exemptions that agencies may cite, and your legal options if a request is improperly denied.

Whitman County Police Blotter

Pullman is in Whitman County. The Whitman County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated parts of the county and maintains separate records. For county-level blotter information and sheriff's office resources, visit the Whitman County police blotter page.

View Whitman County Police Blotter

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Pullman. Each has its own police department and public records process.