Find Fort Wayne Police Records

Fort Wayne police records are public documents created by the Fort Wayne Police Department and maintained under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3). Fort Wayne is Indiana's second-largest city, and its police department handles a high volume of records requests each year covering incident reports, arrest logs, crash reports, and criminal history data. This guide explains how to request records from FWPD, what to expect in terms of fees and processing times, and where to access related state-level databases that cover Allen County and Indiana as a whole. Whether you need a copy of a police report or want to run a background check through state systems, the steps are straightforward once you know where to look.

Fort Wayne Police Department Records Division

The Fort Wayne Police Department is located at 1 E. Main Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. The Records Division handles all public records requests and can be reached at 260-427-1222 during regular business hours. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The department maintains incident reports, arrest records, call logs, and other law enforcement documents covered under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act.

The Fort Wayne Police Department's main website has department contact details, news releases, and information on how to submit a request. Visit the FWPD website for current forms and guidance. You can also call the Records Division directly to ask what documents are on file before you submit a formal request.

The FWPD Records Division processes two types of requests: standard copies at $5 per report, and certified copies at $15. These fees are set by the department and cover document preparation costs. Payment is typically due at pickup or can be included with a mailed request by check or money order made out to the City of Fort Wayne.

The screenshot below shows the FWPD department page where you can find contact information, recent news, and links to online services. The page is a good starting point before submitting any records request.

Fort Wayne Police Department official page

The department page includes links to report crimes online and a list of district office locations across the city.

How to Request Fort Wayne Police Records

Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, found at IC 5-14-3, gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records held by a public agency. The Fort Wayne Police Department is a public agency under this law. To request records, you need to submit a written request that identifies the records you want as clearly as possible. You do not need to give a reason for the request, and you do not need to be an Indiana resident.

Written requests can be submitted in person at the Records Division or mailed to:

Fort Wayne Police Department Records Division
1 E. Main Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

The department has seven days to respond to your request. If the records are ready, they will let you know the cost. If the request will take longer or some records are being withheld, the department must tell you why. Common reasons records may be partially withheld include ongoing investigations, juvenile records, or information about victims of certain crimes. Under APRA, partially responsive responses are common when a case is still open. Once the investigation closes, more of the report may become available.

If you need a report quickly, call ahead to the Records Division at 260-427-1222 and ask if the report has been processed yet. Newer reports from incidents within the last 48 to 72 hours may still be in draft form and not yet available for public release.

Fort Wayne Indiana Criminal History Search

For a statewide criminal history check, the Indiana State Police maintains the Limited Criminal History (LCH) database. This covers arrests and convictions from courts and law enforcement agencies across all 92 Indiana counties. It is the most comprehensive source for Indiana criminal background information that is available to the public. A search covers felony and misdemeanor convictions, pending charges, and some arrest records from within Indiana.

You can request an LCH check online at the ISP criminal history portal. The fee is $15.70 by credit card or $15 for subscriber accounts. If you prefer to request by mail, the fee drops to $7. Results are typically returned within a few minutes for online requests. Mail requests take longer, usually one to two weeks. The LCH result is not the same as a full FBI background check, and it only covers Indiana records. Criminal history from other states will not appear.

The criminal history database is governed by IC 10-13-2. Public access is limited to conviction records in most cases. Arrests that did not lead to conviction may be visible in some contexts but are not always included in standard public results. If you need a more detailed report, a law enforcement agency can access a broader set of records through a different query level not available to the general public.

Fort Wayne Court Records and Public Safety Resources

Several other systems complement what you can get directly from the Fort Wayne Police Department. Indiana's MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov provides free access to court case records from Indiana's trial courts. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. Allen County court filings, including criminal cases, civil matters, and protective orders, are all searchable through MyCase. This is often the fastest way to confirm whether someone has been charged with a crime in Fort Wayne or elsewhere in Allen County.

Crash reports involving Fort Wayne addresses are available through BuyCrash.com. This is the vendor the Indiana State Police uses to sell certified copies of state crash reports. You will need basic details about the crash, such as the date, location, and at least one party's name. Reports are typically available within a few days of the crash. The fee is set by the vendor and varies by format.

Indiana's sex offender registry is searchable at iCrimeWatch. You can search by name, city, zip code, or map view to locate registered offenders near a specific address in Fort Wayne. The registry is maintained by the Indiana Department of Correction and is updated regularly. Listings include photos, addresses, and offense details for each registered individual.

Protection orders issued in Fort Wayne and Allen County are visible through the statewide Protection Order Registry at public.courts.in.gov/porefsp. This database covers both civil and criminal protection orders filed in Indiana courts. Searches are free and available to anyone.

State Police Records Resources for Fort Wayne

Beyond what the Fort Wayne Police Department holds, the Indiana State Police maintains its own set of records. These include ISP troop post reports, state investigations, and records from ISP-managed programs. If the record you need involves state police action rather than city police, you can submit a request through the ISP APRA portal at in.accessgov.com/isp-apra. The portal accepts online submissions and tracks your request status.

The state-level criminal history system screenshot below, from the Indiana State Police criminal history services page, shows what information is searchable and what fees apply. This is a useful starting point if you are unsure whether to request from the city department or the state.

Indiana State Police Criminal History Services

The ISP criminal history page explains the difference between public LCH searches and enhanced searches available to employers and agencies with statutory authorization.

Fort Wayne Body Camera Footage Requests

Body camera footage from Fort Wayne Police Department officers can be requested under APRA, but this type of record is handled differently than standard incident reports. Body camera video is often large in size and may require significant staff time to review, redact, and process before release. FWPD may charge a reasonable fee to cover staff time when processing body camera requests.

Some footage may be withheld entirely if releasing it would compromise an ongoing investigation or reveal the identity of a confidential informant. Footage involving juvenile subjects or victims of certain crimes is also exempt in whole or in part under Indiana law. If your body camera request is denied or partially denied, FWPD must give you a written explanation citing the specific exemption that applies. You then have the right to appeal to the Indiana Public Access Counselor, which is a free process.

Submit body camera requests the same way as other records requests: in writing to the Records Division at 1 E. Main Street, or by calling 260-427-1222 to ask about the best submission method. Be specific about the date, time, and location of the incident so the department can identify the correct footage.

Nearby Cities

Fort Wayne is the largest city in northeastern Indiana. Other qualifying cities nearby include: