Evansville Police Blotter Lookup
Evansville police blotter records are maintained by the Evansville Police Department, which serves Vanderburgh County's largest city in southwestern Indiana. EPD's Central Records section handles public records requests for incident reports, blotter data, and other law enforcement documents. This page covers how to request records, what the process involves, and where to find related resources for Evansville.
Evansville Quick Facts
Evansville Police Department Records
The Evansville Police Department is based at 15 N.W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Evansville, IN 47708. Central Records is in Room 126 at police headquarters. Records staff can be reached at (812) 436-7956. The fax number is (812) 435-6231. Central Records is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is closed on holidays and weekends. If you need a record and can't come in person during those hours, your options are mail or the department's online forms.
EPD's policy is to allow inspection and copying of public records it holds. The department has records in its possession that are confidential by law, so not everything is available for public release. Standard incident reports for calls that don't involve active investigations are generally public. Body camera footage is treated separately and requires a specific form and a processing fee. EPD's website at evansvillepolice.com outlines the department's policies and links directly to the request forms.
All records inquiries must be done in person at Central Records or through the formal request process. You can't call and have records read to you over the phone, and there's no self-service online database. What EPD does offer is a clear form-based process and a dedicated records section with set hours. Knowing those hours before you go saves a wasted trip.
| Agency | Evansville Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 15 N.W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Evansville, IN 47708 |
| Records Location | Room 126, Police Headquarters |
| Records Phone | (812) 436-7956 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
How to Request Evansville Police Blotter Records
To get Evansville police blotter records, you need to use EPD's APRA Public Records Request Form. You can download the form from the EPD website at evansvillepolice.com/public-information-request-forms. Fill it out and submit it in person at Central Records, Room 126, or send it by email or standard mail. You can also fill out the form in person when you arrive at headquarters during business hours. The form is required for body camera requests specifically, and EPD asks all requesters to use it for clarity and faster processing.
For standard incident reports and blotter entries, the in-person route is usually the fastest. Go to Room 126 during business hours, fill out the form, and staff will process it based on what's available and what's releasable under Indiana law. Written requests sent by mail or email start the seven-day APRA acknowledgment clock from the date EPD receives the request. Keep a copy of your submission for your records.
Body camera footage has a separate process and a significantly higher fee. EPD charges $150.00 per recording for body camera video processing. This fee covers the work of reviewing and redacting confidential information from the footage before it can be released. Payment must be made by money order or cashier's check payable to the Evansville Police Department. No debit cards, credit cards, or cash are accepted for BWC requests. The full payment must be received before EPD begins processing the request.
Recordings that are evidence in ongoing criminal investigations are not public until the case is concluded. If the footage you want is tied to an active investigation, EPD will tell you it's not available yet. This is standard under Indiana law and applies statewide, not just in Evansville. Note: Bring identification when visiting Central Records in person, as staff may ask to verify your identity for certain request types.
Evansville Police Department's Central Records section at Room 126 is the in-person access point for police blotter and incident report requests. The EPD public information request forms page provides downloadable APRA forms for standard requests and body camera footage requests.
Online Portals and Resources
EPD's online presence for public records centers on the forms page at evansvillepolice.com/public-information-request-forms. This is where you download the APRA form for standard records or the separate form for body camera requests. There's also a record inquiries page at evansvillepolice.com/record-inquiries that outlines the department's policies and what to expect when you submit a request.
The EPD public information forms page hosts downloadable request forms for both standard records and body camera footage. You can print and complete the form before you arrive at Central Records or scan and email it to the department. Having the form filled out ahead of time cuts down your time at the window considerably.
The EPD record inquiries page gives a plain-language breakdown of what Central Records handles, hours of operation, and contact information. This is a useful first stop before submitting any formal request, especially if you're unsure which form to use or which office to contact for a specific record type.
Vanderburgh County Sheriff for This Area
Evansville is the county seat of Vanderburgh County. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office handles incidents in unincorporated areas of the county outside Evansville city limits. The Sheriff's Office also operates the county jail. If you're looking for records from a rural area of Vanderburgh County or jail booking records, the Sheriff's Office is the right contact. Their public records page is at vanderburghsheriff.org/public-records.
Evansville Court Records
Evansville arrests and police blotter entries often connect to cases in Vanderburgh County courts. The MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov covers Vanderburgh Superior Court and Vanderburgh Circuit Court in Evansville. You can search by name or case number for free. MyCase shows charges filed, court dates, and how cases were resolved. This is useful when you want to trace what happened after a specific incident in Evansville's police blotter.
The Vanderburgh County Clerk's office handles formal court filings and certified copies. The clerk is located at the Civic Center Complex in Evansville. For most research purposes, MyCase has what you need. The Vanderburgh County government site at evansvillegov.org also links to county court resources.
Accident Reports in Evansville
Crash reports from Evansville are available through BuyCrash at buycrash.com. EPD accident reports and ISP reports for state roads in Vanderburgh County appear in this database. Reports typically cost $5 to $12 and are available once the reporting officer submits the completed report. This can take up to ten days depending on the agency and workload.
If the crash happened on a state highway like US 41 or I-164 near Evansville, ISP likely holds the primary report. Search BuyCrash first, and if the report isn't there, contact EPD's records division at (812) 436-7956 to find out which agency responded. For ISP reports, the ISP APRA portal is the direct route.
Indiana State Police Resources
Indiana State Police Troopers cover state roads and interstates in the Evansville area, including I-164 and US 41. Incidents on those roads fall under ISP jurisdiction. The Indiana State Police website has APRA request links, crime data, and ISP district contacts.
The ISP APRA request portal at in.accessgov.com/isp-apra lets you submit online requests for ISP incident reports, accident reports, and other public records. If the incident you're researching happened on a state highway in or around Evansville and ISP was the responding agency, this portal is your best starting point. ISP reports for Vanderburgh County are processed through the ISP records team, not through EPD.
Indiana Public Records Law
Indiana Code § 5-14-3 gives the public the right to access police blotter records from the Evansville Police Department. Under this law, basic incident data is public. This includes the type of incident, date, location, and names of parties involved. EPD can withhold records that relate to an active investigation or that are confidential under state or federal law. Redactions for things like Social Security numbers and medical details are standard.
APRA requires agencies to acknowledge written requests within seven days. In-person requests get a 24-hour response. EPD must then produce releasable records within a reasonable time. For simple requests, that's usually fast. For body camera footage or complex cases, it can take longer due to the review process. If EPD denies your request, they must cite the specific legal exemption. You can challenge that with the Indiana Public Access Counselor at 317-233-9435 or 1-800-228-6013 for free informal guidance. The PAC can help you understand your rights and push back on improper denials without going to court.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
These cities in southwestern Indiana have police blotter pages on this site.