Glendale Police Records Access

Glendale police records are held by the Glendale Police Department Records Bureau. This office processes requests for incident reports, arrest information, and traffic collision reports within Glendale city limits. Glendale is in Los Angeles County, so the county sheriff also maintains some law enforcement records for the area. The city police department handles most calls within Glendale while the sheriff covers unincorporated areas. You can request police records by phone, mail, email, or in person at the police station. Most reports take about ten business days to process. Fees apply and you must show you are a party of interest before the department releases records in Glendale.

How to Request Police Reports

Contact the Glendale Police Department Records Bureau to request police records. The main station is at 131 North Isabel Street in Glendale. Call their non-emergency line with questions about a specific case. You need details like the date, location, and type of incident. A report number helps if you have it. The more info you provide, the faster staff can locate your file in the system.

You must be an involved party to get a copy of a police report. This means you were the victim, a driver in a crash, a property owner, or another party of interest. Suspects may not be able to get reports while the case is under investigation. Witnesses are usually not given full reports. Bring photo ID when you pick up your report. Staff needs to verify your identity and connection to the case in Glendale.

Most reports take about ten business days to complete. The investigating officer must finish writing the report before it goes to records. Simple cases are done faster. Complex investigations with many witnesses or evidence items take longer. Call back if you do not hear anything within two weeks of your request in Glendale.

Fees vary by report type and number of pages. Ask about the cost when you submit your request. Payment is due when you pick up the report. Bring cash, check, or money order. Some agencies accept credit cards, but confirm payment options before you go to the station in Glendale.

Traffic Collision Reports

Glendale traffic collision reports may be available through LexisNexis at ecrash.lexisnexis.com. This online system has crash reports from many California police agencies. Search by date and location to find your report. You need basic details like when and where the crash happened. The system will tell you if your report is ready and how much it costs.

Only parties of interest can purchase crash reports. This includes drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies with a valid claim or policy number. You may need to provide proof of your connection to the crash. LexisNexis verifies your identity before releasing reports in California.

If your crash is not in the LexisNexis system, contact Glendale PD directly. Some reports take longer to upload to the online database. The police department can check the status of your report. They can also provide copies if the report is complete but not yet online in Glendale.

Note: California Highway Patrol handles crashes on state freeways. If CHP responded to your collision, use their system at crashes.chp.ca.gov instead.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Records

Glendale is in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Sheriff runs the jail system and patrols unincorporated areas. If a sheriff's deputy responded to your incident instead of Glendale police, you need to contact the sheriff's records division. They are at 12440 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Call 562-345-4441 for help with sheriff records in Los Angeles County.

The sheriff's office operates by appointment only, Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You cannot get copies of your own arrest report under California law. Arrest reports are exempt from release per Government Code Section 6254(f). The sheriff can provide booking information and other documents. Check their FAQ page at lasd.org/records-faq for more details on what records are available in Los Angeles County.

For officer misconduct and transparency records, use the special SB 1421 portal at lasdsb1421.powerappsportals.us. This covers officer-involved shootings and serious misconduct cases. These records must be released within 45 days under California law. The portal lets you search and request these specific types of records in Los Angeles County.

Types of Police Records

Crime reports document incidents like theft, assault, vandalism, and burglary. An officer writes the report after responding to a call and conducting an investigation. The report includes who was involved, what happened, where it occurred, and what evidence was collected. You can request a copy if you were the victim or another involved party. Active investigations may not be released until the case closes in Glendale.

Arrest records show when someone was booked into custody by police. These include the person's name, charges, arrest date, and bail information. Los Angeles County runs the jail system, so booking logs are held by the county sheriff. You can search for current inmates on the sheriff's website. Historical arrest records require a formal request to the sheriff's records division in Los Angeles County.

Traffic reports cover vehicle collisions investigated by police. The report shows who was driving, what vehicles were involved, how the crash happened, and any citations issued. Drivers and other parties of interest can get copies. Use the LexisNexis system for fast online access to Glendale crash reports in California.

California Public Records Act

The California Public Records Act governs access to police records. This law is in Government Code Sections 7920-7931. Anyone can request records. You do not have to be a California resident or give a reason for your request. Agencies must respond within ten calendar days. They can take a 14-day extension if they need more time to search or review files in California.

Some records are exempt from release. Active investigations are usually not disclosed while the case is open. Personnel files and internal affairs records have limited access. Officer misconduct and use of force records must be released under Penal Code Section 832.7. This includes officer-involved shootings and sustained findings of dishonesty or sexual assault by officers. Agencies have 45 days to provide these records in California.

If your request is denied, the agency must cite the specific exemption that applies. You can challenge a denial in court or work with a public interest lawyer. Many organizations assist with records appeals in California. The agency must explain why the exemption applies to your particular request in Glendale.

Body Camera Footage Requests

Body camera footage is generally exempt from release under California law. Government Code Section 7923.625 requires agencies to release footage from critical incidents. This includes officer-involved shootings and use of force causing great bodily injury or death. The agency has 45 days to provide this footage. They can take 30-day extensions for certain reasons in California.

Other body cam video is not subject to release. This includes traffic stops, witness interviews, and routine patrol activity. Even if you were involved in an incident, you cannot get body cam footage unless it falls under the critical incident rule. The agency will deny your request and explain the exemption in Glendale.

For video evidence from private cameras or business surveillance systems, contact the property owner. Police may have copies as evidence in case files. You can request this through a formal records request. The agency will review it to ensure release does not violate privacy laws before providing a copy in California.

Statewide Police Records Systems

The California Department of Justice maintains criminal history records for the state. You can request your own record at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review. This requires fingerprints and a $25 fee. The DOJ does not release other people's arrest history to the public. Only law enforcement can access those files under Penal Code Section 11105 in California.

For public records requests to the DOJ, use their portal at oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/pra. The DOJ has ten days to respond to requests. Copy fees are 10 cents per page. Some records are exempt from release. Call the Record Review Unit at 916-227-3849 with questions in California.

Timelines for Records Requests

Most police reports in Glendale are ready within ten business days. This is how long it takes for the officer to complete the report and submit it to records. Simple cases are done faster. Complex investigations with multiple victims or witnesses take longer. The department will give you an estimated date when you make your request in Glendale.

Public Records Act requests follow the ten-day response rule. The agency has ten calendar days to tell you if they will release the records. This is just the initial response, not the full release. They may need more time to review files, redact exempt information, or gather documents from different units. Large requests can take weeks or months to fulfill in Glendale.

Traffic collision reports often take longer than crime reports. The investigating officer needs to complete diagrams, measurements, and witness statements. If the crash involved injuries or major damage, the report may take two weeks or more. Check the status with the records bureau if you have not heard back within the expected time frame in Glendale.

Contact Glendale Police Department

For police records in Glendale, contact the police department records bureau. Here is the info you need:

• Glendale Police Department
• Address: 131 North Isabel Street, Glendale, CA 91206
• Ask for Records Bureau
• Typical processing: 10 business days
• Crash reports: ecrash.lexisnexis.com
• Payment: Cash, check, or money order

Call ahead if you plan to visit in person. This ensures someone is available to help you. Bring photo ID and be ready to explain your relationship to the case. Staff needs to verify you are a party of interest before releasing records in Glendale.

Records in Other LA County Cities

Other large cities in Los Angeles County have their own police departments and records systems. Los Angeles is the largest city with its own LAPD records division. Long Beach has a separate police department south of LA. Pasadena is east of Glendale with its own records bureau. Each city has different procedures and fees for police records requests in California.

Burbank is next to Glendale and also has its own police department. If your incident occurred in a different city, contact that city's police department directly. Jurisdiction matters for records requests. The wrong agency cannot help you if they did not handle your case in Los Angeles County.