Find Indianapolis Police Records

Indianapolis police records are maintained by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, known as IMPD, and are open to the public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3. Indianapolis is Indiana's capital and the state's largest city, with a consolidated city-county government covering Marion County. IMPD handles all city police activity, which makes it the primary source for incident reports, arrest logs, crash investigations, and related law enforcement records in Indianapolis. This guide covers how to request records from IMPD, what fees apply, and where to search statewide databases for criminal history, court filings, crash reports, sex offender registration, and protection orders across Indianapolis and Marion County.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD)

IMPD is headquartered at 50 N. Alabama Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204. The Records Branch handles all public records requests and can be reached at 317-327-3811. In-person requests are accepted Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Mail requests and online portal submissions are also accepted. The fee for a standard incident report copy is $5. Certified copies cost $20. Payment is due at pickup for in-person requests or can be included with mail requests.

Because Indianapolis has a consolidated city-county government under Unigov, IMPD covers law enforcement for most of Marion County, not just the city proper. Several smaller municipalities within Marion County maintain their own police departments, but the vast majority of Indianapolis addresses are served by IMPD. If you are not sure whether an incident would have been handled by IMPD or a smaller city department, call 317-327-3811 and staff can clarify.

IMPD's main website at indy.gov/agency/impd provides access to online report filing for certain incident types, department news, and contact information for each division. The site explains how to request records and what to expect in terms of processing times for different types of requests.

The screenshot below shows IMPD's main agency page with department information, news, and links to online services including records requests.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department - indy.gov

This page is the primary source for IMPD contact details, online incident reporting, and records request information for Indianapolis and Marion County.

How to Request Indianapolis Police Records

Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3 applies to IMPD as a public agency. Any person can request to inspect or copy public records. No reason is needed, and you do not need to be an Indiana resident or Indianapolis resident. The request just needs to describe the records you want with enough specificity that staff can find them.

You can submit requests three ways: online through the IMPD portal, in person at 50 N. Alabama Street during business hours, or by mail to the same address addressed to the Records Branch. Online is often the most convenient for routine requests like incident reports. For in-person visits, come during the 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM window Monday through Friday. For mail requests, include a check or money order for the fee if you already know the amount, or wait for a fee notice before sending payment.

IMPD has seven calendar days to respond to any records request under APRA. For large or complex requests involving multiple incidents or long time periods, the department may need additional time and must notify you. Active investigation files are typically exempt until the case closes. Juvenile records, some victim information, and records that would identify confidential informants are also restricted. If a record contains both exempt and non-exempt content, IMPD must give you the non-exempt portions with redactions clearly marked.

If IMPD denies your request and you believe the denial is improper, you can file a complaint with the Indiana Public Access Counselor at no cost. The PAC reviews the situation and issues a formal opinion. Most disputes are resolved at this stage without court involvement.

Indianapolis Indiana Criminal History Search

The Indiana State Police runs the Limited Criminal History (LCH) database at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch/. This covers criminal convictions and pending charges from courts and law enforcement agencies across all 92 Indiana counties. Marion County and Indianapolis records are fully included. Run a search for $15.70 by credit card, $15 for subscriber accounts, or $7 by mail.

Results come back in minutes for online requests. The LCH is governed by IC 10-13-2 and covers Indiana offenses only. It will not show out-of-state criminal history. For a national background check, you need to go through the FBI or an authorized third-party. But for Indiana-specific checks, the LCH is the standard tool and is widely used by individuals, attorneys, and nonprofit organizations needing Indiana criminal history data quickly.

The ISP also maintains its own records separate from those held by IMPD. The ISP APRA portal at in.accessgov.com/isp-apra is for requests directed at the state police rather than the city department. Use the ISP portal when the record you need involves a state trooper response or an ISP-managed program. The portal accepts online submissions and tracks request status.

The screenshot below from the ISP APRA portal shows how to submit a records request directly to the Indiana State Police online.

Indiana State Police APRA Records Request Portal

The ISP APRA portal allows online submission of requests for records held by the Indiana State Police, separate from city or county law enforcement agencies.

Court Records: MyCase and Marion County Courts

Marion County court records are searchable at no cost through Indiana's MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov. MyCase covers all Indiana trial courts and lets you search by name, case number, or attorney. Criminal charges filed as a result of IMPD arrests, civil matters, family court cases, and protective order filings from Marion County are all searchable here. No account is needed, and searching is free. MyCase is typically updated within a day or two of a filing, making it one of the fastest ways to track the progress of a criminal case through the courts.

Marion County has a busy court system. The Indianapolis City-County Building at 200 E. Washington Street houses many court offices. The Marion County Clerk maintains official court records and can help with certified copies of judgments and other documents when MyCase search results are not sufficient for your needs.

Indianapolis Crash Reports and Public Safety Resources

Vehicle crash reports from Indianapolis streets are available through BuyCrash.com. This is Indiana's vendor for certified crash reports from the state police system. Provide the crash date, location, and party names to find the correct report. Most reports appear in the system within a few days of the incident. Fees depend on the format you select.

Indiana's sex offender registry at iCrimeWatch covers all of Marion County and Indianapolis. The registry is maintained by the Indiana Department of Correction and is searchable by name, zip code, city, or map. Offender listings show addresses, photos, and offense details. Indianapolis has a large number of registered offenders due to its population, so the map view can be especially useful for location-based searches.

Protection orders from Marion County courts are in the Indiana Protection Order Registry at public.courts.in.gov/porefsp. This statewide registry covers both civil and criminal protection orders from all Indiana counties. Searches are free and no account is required. The registry is updated as courts enter new orders, modifications, and terminations into the system.

Body Camera Footage from IMPD

Body camera requests from IMPD officers are handled under the same APRA framework as other records, but they come with additional complexity. IMPD has a large number of officers and handles thousands of calls per shift. Body camera requests need to be very specific. Include the date, time, and location of the incident, the names of parties involved, and the incident or case number if you have it. Without that detail, locating the right footage can take significantly longer.

Video files are large and must be reviewed for exempt content before release. IMPD may charge a reasonable fee to cover the staff time involved. Footage from active investigations is generally withheld until the case closes. Content showing juvenile subjects, victims of certain crimes, or tactically sensitive information may be redacted or withheld entirely. If IMPD denies or limits a body camera request, it must give you a written explanation citing the specific exemption. You can appeal to the Indiana Public Access Counselor at no cost if you believe the denial is not supported by law.

Nearby Cities

Indianapolis is the center of the state's largest metro area. Other qualifying cities in central Indiana include: