Access Bloomington Police Blotter
Bloomington police blotter records are handled by the Bloomington Police Department, which serves Monroe County's largest city in south-central Indiana. BPD covers incidents within Bloomington city limits, while Indiana University has a separate police department for the campus. This page explains how to access BPD police blotter records, what resources are available, and where to go for related records in Monroe County.
Bloomington Quick Facts
Bloomington Police Department
The Bloomington Police Department is located at 220 E. Third St., Bloomington, IN 47401. The non-emergency line is (812) 339-4477. BPD covers all law enforcement calls within Bloomington city limits and is the primary agency for police blotter data in the city. The department documents incidents, arrests, and officer responses throughout the city, and those records are subject to Indiana's public records law.
BPD's website at bloomington.in.gov/police has department contact information, crime data summaries, and links to city services. The City Clerk's office and Legal Department coordinate formal APRA requests for the city, including BPD records. For formal written records requests, contact the City Clerk or BPD directly at the Third Street address. City Hall at 401 N. Morton St. houses the clerk and legal offices if you need to submit a formal APRA request in person.
An important distinction for Bloomington: Indiana University has its own police department that covers the IU campus. If an incident happened on IU property, the IU Police Department likely holds that record, not BPD. IU Police can be reached through the IU public safety page at protect.iu.edu/iu-police-department. If you're not sure which agency responded to an incident, the address and location of the event usually determine jurisdiction. On-campus incidents go to IU Police. Off-campus incidents in the city go to BPD.
| Agency | Bloomington Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 220 E. Third St., Bloomington, IN 47401 |
| Non-Emergency | (812) 339-4477 |
| APRA Coordinator | City Clerk's Office or Legal Department |
| Website | bloomington.in.gov/police |
How to Request Bloomington Police Blotter Records
To request Bloomington police blotter records, contact BPD at (812) 339-4477 or visit the department at 220 E. Third St. during business hours. For formal APRA requests, written submissions are the safest approach because they start the seven-day acknowledgment clock under Indiana Code § 5-14-3. Send written requests to the Bloomington Police Department at the Third Street address or to the City Clerk if BPD directs you there. The Bloomington city website at bloomington.in.gov has links to city services and may list the current APRA contact for police records.
When you submit a written request, describe the record as specifically as you can. Include the date, location, type of incident, names of people involved, and any case or report numbers you have. Vague requests take longer because staff have to do broader searches. The more you narrow it down, the faster you get a response. Standard copying fees under APRA are $0.10 per page for paper records. Electronic records may be provided at no charge for small requests.
You don't need to explain why you want the records. APRA doesn't require a reason. Agencies must acknowledge written requests within seven days and produce disclosable records within a reasonable time after that. For most standard incident reports and blotter data, that process is fairly straightforward in Bloomington. Larger or more sensitive requests, or those involving video footage, take longer due to review requirements.
If BPD denies your request or delays without explanation, the Indiana Public Access Counselor at 317-233-9435 or 1-800-228-6013 can help. The PAC reviews APRA disputes at no cost. Their advisory opinions often resolve issues without litigation. Note: Always keep a copy of your written request and note the date you sent it, so you have documentation if a dispute arises.
The Bloomington Police Department at 220 E. Third St. is the primary source for city police blotter records. The BPD website links to department resources and city services. For formal APRA requests, BPD or the City Clerk's office handles the process under Indiana's public records law.
Online Portals and Resources
BPD's website at bloomington.in.gov/police is the primary starting point for Bloomington police blotter information online. The main city website at bloomington.in.gov has contact directories for all city departments, including the clerk and legal office that handle formal APRA requests. For Monroe County court records, the MyCase portal covers Monroe County courts free of charge.
Indiana University Police Department handles campus incidents and maintains separate records. The IU Police Department page at protect.iu.edu/iu-police-department has information about requesting IU Police records. If your inquiry involves the university campus, start there rather than with BPD.
Monroe County Sheriff for This Area
Bloomington is the county seat of Monroe County. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office covers incidents in the parts of Monroe County outside Bloomington city limits, including rural areas and smaller communities. If the incident you're researching happened outside the city proper, the Sheriff's Office is the right contact. The county also operates the Monroe County Jail, which holds people arrested in both the city and the surrounding county. The Monroe County page has sheriff contact details and records request information.
Bloomington Court Records
Criminal cases from Bloomington police blotter arrests are filed in Monroe County courts. The MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov covers Monroe Circuit Court and Monroe Superior Court in Bloomington. Search by name or case number to find criminal charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. MyCase is free to use and updated regularly, making it the fastest way to link a blotter entry to its resulting court case.
IU-related cases may appear in Monroe County courts even though IU Police made the arrest. The court system doesn't separate cases by which agency filed the arrest. All Monroe County criminal cases, regardless of whether BPD or IU Police made the arrest, appear in MyCase. For certified copies or older cases not in the online system, contact the Monroe County Clerk's office in Bloomington.
Accident Reports in Bloomington
Crash reports from Bloomington are available through BuyCrash at buycrash.com. BPD accident reports and Indiana State Police reports for state highways in Monroe County appear in this system. Reports typically cost $5 to $12 and are available within ten days of the crash once the officer submits the completed report. Search by report number, date, or the names of parties involved.
For crashes on SR 37, SR 46, or other state routes near Bloomington where ISP responded, the report may be under ISP in BuyCrash. You can also request ISP reports directly through the ISP APRA portal. If you're not sure which agency responded, call BPD at (812) 339-4477 and ask. They can look up which department handled a specific call and point you to the right records source.
Indiana State Police Resources
Indiana State Police cover the state roads around Bloomington, including SR 37 and SR 46. Incidents on those roads fall under ISP jurisdiction. The Indiana State Police website has links to the ISP APRA portal and statewide crime data resources.
The ISP APRA portal at in.accessgov.com/isp-apra handles online requests for ISP records including incident reports and accident reports from state roads in Monroe County. For aggregate crime trend data from the Bloomington area, ISP publishes NIBRS statistics through the ISP NIBRS initiative, which compiles data from both BPD and county agencies.
Indiana Public Records Law
Indiana Code § 5-14-3 governs access to Bloomington police blotter records. Under this law, blotter data is public as a general rule. The city and BPD must give you access to incident reports, arrest logs, and other law enforcement records that aren't exempt. Exemptions include active investigatory records where disclosure would harm an ongoing investigation, and records confidential under federal or other state laws.
Standard fees are $0.10 per page for paper copies. Electronic copies of small requests may come at no charge. BPD cannot charge you more than the actual cost of reproduction. If you believe Bloomington or BPD denied your request improperly, the Indiana Public Access Counselor is your first step. Call 317-233-9435 or 1-800-228-6013. The PAC offers free informal opinions and is experienced in helping requesters resolve APRA disputes with Indiana law enforcement agencies. Going to the PAC first is almost always faster than going to court.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
These cities near Bloomington have police blotter pages on this site.