Arizona Police Blotter Records
Arizona police blotter records track arrests, incidents, and crime reports from law enforcement agencies across the state. The Arizona Department of Public Safety handles state-level records while county sheriffs and city police departments keep their own local logs. You can search these Arizona police blotter records through online portals, written requests, or in-person visits to agency offices. Most police blotter data in Arizona is public under state law, which means anyone can look up arrest logs, incident reports, and booking information without needing to explain why they want it.
Arizona Police Blotter Quick Facts
Arizona DPS Police Blotter Records
The Arizona Department of Public Safety serves as the main state law enforcement agency. DPS troopers patrol highways and handle incidents on state roads. They keep records of all arrests, traffic stops, and criminal investigations they conduct.
The Public Records Unit at DPS processes requests for police blotter data from the public. This unit handles offense reports, incident reports, and arrest records that state troopers create. They also provide radio logs and 911 tapes for highway incidents. You can submit your request online through their portal or send it by mail to PO Box 6638 Mail Drop 3240 in Phoenix. The DPS office at 2222 West Encanto Blvd in Phoenix accepts walk-in requests from 8am to 5pm on weekdays. Call (602) 223-2000 and press option 2 to reach the records unit with questions about Arizona police blotter data.
The screenshot below shows the DPS records request page where you can start your search for Arizona police blotter records.
DPS charges fees for police blotter copies. Paper copies cost $9 for the first nine pages. Each page after that adds ten cents. Email delivery costs $9 with a 5 MB size limit. A DVD with records costs $15 and holds up to 4.7 GB of data. Flash drives run $20 for 16 GB of storage. Video requests from Arizona police incidents cost $21.33 for the first half hour and the same rate for each additional half hour.
Note: DPS only keeps records for incidents their troopers handle on state highways and interstates in Arizona.
Search Arizona Police Records Online
The Public Services Portal at DPS lets you create an account and request records online. This system tracks your requests and sends updates when your Arizona police blotter records are ready. You can check the status of pending requests without calling the office.
The portal works best when you have details about the incident you want. You should know the date, location, or names of people involved. State troopers file reports by date and location, so this info helps staff find your Arizona police blotter records faster. Requests can take 30 business days to process due to high volume. The DPS asks that you wait at least 30 days before calling to check on your request status.
Arizona Criminal History Records
Criminal history checks work differently than police blotter requests. Under ARS 41-1750, the DPS Central State Repository holds all Arizona criminal records. This database tracks arrests and convictions from agencies across the state. However, private citizens cannot use this system for background checks.
Arizona state law blocks the Central State Repository from running checks for private employers, personal use, immigration matters, visa applications, or foreign adoptions. If you need a criminal background check, you must use other resources. The DPS criminal history page explains what types of requests they can and cannot process.
For police blotter data like recent arrests and incident reports, you can still request those records from the agency that created them. County sheriffs and city police departments release their own arrest logs and booking information to the public. These Arizona police blotter records show recent activity without a full criminal history check.
Arizona Police Blotter Crime Statistics
The Arizona Crime Statistics TOPS Portal offers statewide crime data. TOPS stands for Theme-Oriented Public Site. This free tool shows crime trends from 2020 forward. You can view data by county, city, or agency.
The portal breaks crime into three main groups. Crimes against persons include assault, murder, and robbery. Crimes against property cover theft, burglary, and vandalism. Crimes against society include drug offenses and weapons charges. You can filter Arizona police blotter statistics by any of these categories to see patterns in your area.
The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission also tracks crime data through its Statistical Analysis Center. Visit azcjc.gov for research reports and analysis of Arizona police blotter trends over time.
Arizona Public Records Law
Arizona has strong public records laws that cover police blotter data. ARS 39-121 states that public records shall be open to inspection by any person at all times during office hours. This means you can walk into most law enforcement agencies and ask to see their arrest logs and incident reports.
Under ARS 39-121.01, any person may request copies of public records during regular office hours. You do not need to explain why you want Arizona police blotter records. The law covers both looking at records in person and getting copies to take with you. Agencies can charge reasonable fees for copies but cannot deny access based on your reason for asking.
If an agency denies your Arizona police blotter request, you have options. ARS 39-121.02 lets you appeal a denial through a special action in superior court. The court can order the agency to release the records if they should be public. Agencies that wrongly deny access may face penalties.
Commercial use has extra rules. ARS 39-121.03 requires anyone seeking Arizona police blotter records for commercial purposes to disclose that fact in writing. You must explain how you plan to use the records commercially. This rule helps agencies track how public data gets used.
Free Police Reports for Crime Victims
Victims of serious crimes can get Arizona police blotter records at no charge. ARS 39-127 gives victims of Part I crimes the right to receive free copies of police reports, audio recordings, and video recordings related to their case. Part I crimes are the most serious offenses tracked by the FBI.
These crimes include murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. If you were the victim of one of these crimes in Arizona, the agency handling your case must give you one copy of the police blotter records for free. This helps victims get the documentation they need without added costs during a difficult time.
Note: This free copy rule only applies to victims of serious Part I crimes, not all incident reports in Arizona.
Arizona Traffic Accident Reports
Traffic accident reports follow special rules. ARS 28-667 prohibits using accident reports for commercial solicitation. This means attorneys and businesses cannot use Arizona police blotter data from crashes to contact victims and offer services.
The DPS handles collision reports from state highways. Local police and sheriffs handle city and county road crashes. Each agency keeps its own reports. You request accident reports from the agency that responded to the crash. For state highway crashes, that means DPS. For local roads, contact the city police or county sheriff where the accident happened.
The Arizona Secretary of State also maintains public records guidance that can help you understand your rights when requesting Arizona police blotter and accident data.
How to Request Arizona Police Blotter Records
Getting Arizona police blotter records takes a few steps. First, figure out which agency has the records you need. State troopers file reports with DPS. County deputies file with the sheriff. City officers file with their police department. You must contact the right agency to get your records.
Once you know the agency, you can request records in several ways:
- Submit an online request through the agency portal
- Email your request to the records division
- Mail a written request with details about what you need
- Visit in person during business hours
- Call to ask about the request process
Include as much detail as you can in your request. Dates, locations, names, and case numbers all help staff find your Arizona police blotter records faster. Vague requests take longer to process because someone must search more broadly. Be specific about what incident or person you want information about.
Fees vary by agency and record type. Most Arizona law enforcement agencies charge between $3 and $10 for standard police reports. Copies beyond the first set often cost extra per page. Some agencies charge hourly rates for video footage or large data requests. Ask about fees before submitting your request so you know what to expect.
Online Police Blotter Search Tools
Many Arizona agencies use third-party systems for records access. These tools make it easier to search Arizona police blotter data without visiting an office.
GovQA powers records portals for several cities including Avondale, Buckeye, Mesa, Queen Creek, Surprise, and Peoria. You create an account, submit your request, and track its progress online. JustFOIA serves Gilbert, Tempe, and the City of Maricopa with similar features. Both systems send email updates when your Arizona police blotter records are ready.
For accident reports specifically, many agencies work with BuyCrash.com and CrashDocs.org. These sites let you search for and purchase collision reports online. Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Scottsdale, and Tucson all participate in these crash report systems.
Crime mapping tools show recent police blotter activity on a map. LexisNexis Community Crime Map covers Phoenix, Peoria, Goodyear, Queen Creek, and Yuma. CrimeMapping.com serves Glendale and Surprise. These free tools let you see Arizona police blotter incidents near any address without filing a formal request.
Browse Arizona Police Blotter by County
Each county in Arizona has a sheriff's office that keeps arrest logs, booking records, and incident reports. Select a county below to find local police blotter resources and contact information.
Police Blotter in Major Arizona Cities
City police departments handle law enforcement within municipal limits. Click a city below to learn about their police blotter records and how to request them.