Sunnyvale Police Records
Sunnyvale police records are maintained by the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. This unique agency combines police and fire services for the city. Public safety officers respond to calls and create incident reports for cases within Sunnyvale. The department is in Santa Clara County. A records division processes public requests under the California Public Records Act. You can submit requests online, by mail, or in person. Response time is ten days for the initial reply. Most records are ready within two weeks for Sunnyvale police records.
Sunnyvale Quick Facts
Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety
The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety provides both police and fire services for the city. Officers are cross-trained to handle law enforcement and emergency medical calls. This is different from most cities that have separate police and fire departments. All incident reports and arrest records are created by public safety officers in Sunnyvale.
The records division processes requests for police reports and other documents. You can contact them by phone or visit in person during business hours. Most requests are submitted through an online portal or by mail. Provide as much detail as you can about the incident. Include the date, location in Sunnyvale, names of people involved, and the type of report you need from Sunnyvale.
| Agency | Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety |
|---|---|
| Address | 700 All America Way Sunnyvale, CA 94086 |
| Phone | (408) 730-7100 |
| Records Division | Contact through main number |
| Website | sunnyvale.ca.gov/dps |
Sunnyvale is in Santa Clara County. The Santa Clara County Sheriff serves unincorporated areas and some smaller cities. If your incident occurred outside Sunnyvale city limits, you may need to contact the sheriff at 55 West Younger Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110. Call them at 408-808-4705 for questions about sheriff records from areas near Sunnyvale.
How to Request Records
To request police records from Sunnyvale, contact the Department of Public Safety records division. Include the date of the incident, location in Sunnyvale, names of people involved, and the type of report you need. Case numbers help speed up the search if you have one. Without a case number, staff can search by name and date to find your records from Sunnyvale.
The California Public Records Act in Government Code Sections 7920-7931 gives you the right to request police records. The agency has ten calendar days to respond. They can take a 14-day extension if needed. The initial response tells you if they have the records and when they will be ready. Not all records can be released under state law in Sunnyvale.
You cannot get arrest reports if you are the suspect. California law under Government Code Section 6254 exempts these from release to arrested persons. Victims and involved parties can usually get incident reports. Traffic collision reports are available to drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies under Vehicle Code Section 20012. Most collision reports in Sunnyvale are ready within seven to ten days.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff charges fees for some records. Criminal records cost $25, and clearance letters cost $20. Processing can take up to four weeks for sheriff records. These fees apply to sheriff records from unincorporated areas near Sunnyvale. City public safety records may have different fees and timelines.
Available Police Records
Arrest records are created when someone is booked into custody in Sunnyvale. The booking log shows the person's name, booking date, charges, and bail amount. These logs are public under California law. Arrest information does not prove guilt. Charges may be dropped or dismissed later. You can request arrest information from the Department of Public Safety in Sunnyvale cases.
Incident reports document crimes and calls for service in Sunnyvale. A public safety officer writes a report after responding to an incident. The report includes what happened, who was involved, witness statements, and what actions the officer took. You can request a copy if you were a victim or party involved. The department will not release reports to suspects in active investigations. Closed case files may be available depending on the type of crime in Sunnyvale.
Traffic collision reports are created when officers respond to crashes in Sunnyvale. These show the date, time, location, vehicles, drivers, and any injuries. The law requires agencies to give copies to involved parties. Most reports are ready in one to two weeks. You can request these from the Department of Public Safety records division. Some crashes on state highways may be handled by the California Highway Patrol instead of city officers in Sunnyvale.
Body camera footage from Sunnyvale public safety officers is generally exempt from disclosure. Critical incident footage must be released under Government Code Section 7923.625. This includes officer-involved shootings and serious use of force. The agency has 45 days to provide the footage. Other body cam video from routine calls is not subject to release under the Public Records Act in Sunnyvale.
Note: SB 1421 records must be disclosed within 45 days per state transparency requirements.
Fees and Processing Times
The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety may charge fees for police records. Fee amounts depend on the type of record and whether you need a certified copy. Some agencies provide digital copies at no cost. Others charge per page for printed copies. Contact the department at 408-730-7100 to ask about current fees before you submit a request for Sunnyvale police records.
Processing times vary by request complexity. Simple incident reports often take one to two weeks. Complex requests with multiple files can take longer. The ten-day response deadline is just the initial response. The agency will estimate when your records will be ready. Follow up if you do not hear back within the time they quoted for Sunnyvale police records.
Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking get free copies of their incident reports under California law. The agency must provide these within five days at no charge. You may need to show proof that you were the victim. This applies to records from Sunnyvale incidents.
Other Record Sources
The California Department of Justice maintains statewide criminal history records. You can request your own record for $25 through the DOJ Record Review Unit. The process requires fingerprints. Mail your application to PO BOX 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207. Visit oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review for forms. This gives you a complete state record including arrests or convictions from Sunnyvale.
The California Highway Patrol handles crash reports for incidents on state highways. You can request reports online at crashes.chp.ca.gov. Only parties of interest can get copies. This includes drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies. The CHP serves Highway 101, Interstate 280, and other state routes near Sunnyvale. For crashes on city streets, contact the Department of Public Safety instead.
Santa Clara County Superior Court keeps criminal case files for prosecutions in Sunnyvale. You can search cases online through the court website. Court records include filings, hearings, and judgments. These are separate from police reports but may contain related information. Contact the court clerk for copies of documents from Sunnyvale criminal cases.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff can provide traffic reports through LexisNexis for crashes investigated by sheriff deputies. This service is used for some collision reports in the county. Check with the sheriff records division about report availability for specific incidents near Sunnyvale.
Santa Clara County Police Records
Sunnyvale is in Santa Clara County. The sheriff serves unincorporated areas and some smaller cities across the region. For county records, sheriff services, and fee schedules, visit the Santa Clara County police records page.