Mishawaka Police Blotter Incident Records

Mishawaka police blotter records are maintained by the Mishawaka Police Department (MPD), the primary law enforcement agency for the city of Mishawaka in St. Joseph County, Indiana. This page covers how to access police incident reports, request records under Indiana law, and use the public tools available for Mishawaka blotter data.

Mishawaka Police Department Records and Services

The Mishawaka Police Department is located at 100 Lincolnway West, Mishawaka, IN 46544. The Records and Services Division is on the north side of the building, which also houses the Mishawaka City Court. Brad Haney directs the Records and Services Division. Staff are available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, to handle requests in person, by phone, or by email.

The Records Division phone number is 574-258-1681. Email requests go to mpdrecords@mishawaka.in.gov. For general department inquiries, use webmaster@mishawaka.in.gov. The full MPD website is at mishawaka.in.gov/government/departments/police-department. MPD also maintains a Facebook page at facebook.com/MishawakaPD, where the department posts community news and public safety updates. The department shares a building with the Mishawaka City Court, which makes it convenient if you need to access both police records and court case information during the same visit.

One useful practical note: there is an ATM in the lobby of the Records Division for public use. This is helpful since many of MPD's fees must be paid in cash or by specific payment method before records are released.

How to Request Mishawaka Police Blotter Records

Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA), Indiana Code § 5-14-3, gives you the right to request police blotter records from the Mishawaka Police Department. MPD has an official Public Records Request (APRA) form available for download at mishawaka.in.gov/download/public-records-request-apra. Submit the completed form to the Records and Services Division at 100 Lincolnway West.

MPD accepts records requests by email at mpdrecords@mishawaka.in.gov, by phone at 574-258-1681, by mail, and in person. However, some record types are only available in person. Case reports (police blotter incident reports) require an in-person visit and a valid picture ID. The fee is $5.00 per copy. For phone or email requests, payment must be processed before records are released. The department can fulfill those requests via fax or email after the fee is handled.

MPD has a detailed fee schedule. Case reports are $5.00 per copy, in-person only with valid ID. Accident reports are $5.00 per copy and can be obtained in person, by email, or by phone after payment, and online through BuyCrash or Carfax. DVD video evidence is $10.00 per disc. Manual fingerprint cards are $5.00 per card, in-person only with ID. Local background checks are $10.00, in-person only, and cover only incidents within Mishawaka PD's jurisdiction. VIN checks are $5.00 and require the vehicle to be present or within Mishawaka city limits. Pay uniform and traffic tickets by calling 574-256-6330.

Written APRA requests must be acknowledged within seven days under Indiana law. You do not need to state why you want records. Agencies may withhold investigatory records for open cases if disclosure would harm the investigation.

Note: Case reports at Mishawaka PD are in-person only and require a valid photo ID. Background checks are also in-person only and cover Mishawaka jurisdiction only.

Online Resources for Mishawaka Records

The Mishawaka Police Department's Records and Services Division page outlines all available services, fees, and request methods. This is the starting point for most public records requests. The APRA request form is available for download directly from the MPD website. For accident reports online, the primary portal is BuyCrash at buycrash.com. Carfax at carfax.com is listed as an alternative source for accident report access as well.

The Mishawaka Police Department Records and Services Division provides a range of public services from police blotter report copies to VIN checks and fingerprinting. The division shares space with the Mishawaka City Court, so residents can handle both police and court records in one location. For St. Joseph County records including the county sheriff and probate court data, visit the St. Joseph County Portal at sjcpd.org/records.

The MPD Records Division keeps a full range of police reports, records, and permits as documented on the department website. For firearm permits, MPD processes those through the Indiana State Police portal first. Contact the Records Division for details on the permit process if needed.

St. Joseph County Sheriff Records

The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated parts of St. Joseph County outside Mishawaka and South Bend city limits. If an incident occurred in a township or rural area of St. Joseph County rather than inside Mishawaka, the Sheriff's Office holds the report. The St. Joseph County Portal at sjcpd.org/records provides access to sheriff records and related public safety information for the county.

For full details on St. Joseph County blotter records including Sheriff's Office contact information, request procedures, and county court access, visit the St. Joseph County police blotter page. Mishawaka and South Bend are both served by St. Joseph County courts even though each city has its own police department. The county page covers records from all agencies operating in the county.

Court Records for Mishawaka Cases

Arrests from Mishawaka police blotter entries that result in charges appear in St. Joseph County court records. The MyCase system at public.courts.in.gov is a free tool that lets you search Indiana courts including St. Joseph County Superior Court and Circuit Court. These courts handle criminal and civil matters for both Mishawaka and South Bend. Search by name or case number to find any case linked to MPD arrests.

The Mishawaka City Court is in the same building as the MPD Records Division at 100 Lincolnway West. This court handles misdemeanor cases and local ordinance violations. Felony cases from Mishawaka go to St. Joseph County Superior Court. Both courts are searchable through MyCase at no cost. Police blotter records come from MPD. Court records come from the court clerk. Both are public but managed by separate offices, even when they share a building.

Accident Reports in Mishawaka

Accident reports from Mishawaka Police Department cost $5.00 per copy. You can get them in person at 100 Lincolnway West, by email or phone after payment is processed, or online through buycrash.com or carfax.com. For phone and email requests, MPD releases the report after receiving payment. BuyCrash and Carfax are the two online options for accident report access. For crashes on US-20, Indiana-23, or other state routes through Mishawaka, the Indiana State Police may hold the primary report.

BuyCrash covers MPD and ISP accident reports for the St. Joseph County area. Search by report number, date, or party names. Pay by credit or debit card online. If a report does not appear in BuyCrash within ten days, contact MPD at 574-258-1681 or the responding agency to request a copy through APRA. Carfax is an alternative that some users find easier to navigate for specific vehicle-related crashes.

Indiana State Police Resources for Mishawaka

The Indiana State Police patrols US-20, Indiana-23, and the Indiana Toll Road near Mishawaka. ISP holds records for incidents on those routes. For highway crashes and major incidents on state-maintained roads in the area, ISP may have the primary report. Contact ISP if your search for a crash report through MPD or BuyCrash does not return results for a highway incident.

Submit ISP records requests through the ISP APRA portal at in.accessgov.com/isp-apra. This online portal handles all ISP public records including incident reports and crash records. The ISP NIBRS initiative page provides crime statistics for the St. Joseph County area, including data reported by MPD and the St. Joseph County Sheriff to the state's crime reporting system. For statewide background checks, contact the Indiana State Police at 317-233-5424, separate from MPD's local background check service.

Indiana Public Records Law and Mishawaka

Indiana Code § 5-14-3 governs access to police blotter records in Mishawaka. Under this statute, most blotter information is public, including names, dates, incident types, and general locations. MPD must acknowledge written APRA requests within seven days. You do not have to provide your name or explain why you want the records. Investigatory records for open cases can be withheld if release would harm an active investigation. Personal data is redacted from public copies before release.

MPD's in-person-only requirement for case reports and background checks is consistent with some limitations agencies may set under APRA for certain record categories. The law allows agencies reasonable flexibility in how they fulfill requests while still meeting APRA timelines. If you believe a request was wrongly denied or delayed beyond APRA timelines, the Indiana Public Access Counselor at 317-233-9435 or 1-800-228-6013 offers free informal opinions and can help resolve access issues. Visit in.gov/pac for details. Standard copy fees under Indiana law are $0.10 per page, though MPD charges flat fees for most record types.

Note: Mishawaka PD background checks cover only incidents within MPD's jurisdiction. For statewide background check results, use the Indiana State Police at 317-233-5424.

Nearby Indiana Cities

Mishawaka borders South Bend and is close to other qualifying cities in northern Indiana. Each city has its own police department and blotter records process.