Access Schererville Police Blotter Records
Schererville police blotter records are maintained by the Schererville Police Department, which serves this Lake County town in northwest Indiana. The department handles incident reports, arrest logs, and other public documents under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. This page explains how to request Schererville police blotter records, what online tools are available, and how to access related records through county and state agencies.
Schererville Quick Facts
Schererville Police Department
The Schererville Police Department is located at 25 E Joliet St, Schererville, IN. Chief Pete Sormaz leads the department with Deputy Chief Steve McNamara. The department is the primary law enforcement agency for the town and maintains records for all incidents within Schererville's jurisdiction. The non-emergency line is 219-322-5000. For records and FOIA requests, you can also email the department directly at spdrecords@schererville.org.
The department maintains an Instagram account at @scherervillepolice, but that account is not monitored 24 hours a day. For non-emergency matters, call 219-322-5000. For emergencies, call 911. Do not rely on social media for time-sensitive requests or incident reporting. The account does occasionally post public safety updates that may include blotter-style information for the community.
The Schererville police website at schererville.org covers department news, staff directory, and links to public records request forms. The staff directory lists department personnel with contact information if you need to reach a specific person.
| Address | 25 E Joliet St, Schererville, IN |
|---|---|
| Non-Emergency Phone | 219-322-5000 |
| Fax | 219-865-5529 |
| Records Email | spdrecords@schererville.org |
| Chief | Pete Sormaz |
| Deputy Chief | Steve McNamara |
How to Request Schererville Police Blotter Records
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA) at Indiana Code § 5-14-3 gives you the right to access police blotter records from the Schererville Police Department. You do not need to state why you want the records. Written requests must receive acknowledgment within seven days. Verbal or in-person requests get a 24-hour response.
The Schererville Police Department has a Public Records Request page on the town website. Fill out the Public Records Request Form and submit it via email, mail, or in person. The dedicated records email is spdrecords@schererville.org, which is the most direct way to submit a written request. You can also fax to 219-865-5529. In-person submissions go to 25 E Joliet St during business hours.
The Schererville Document Center at schererville.org contains forms including the Public Records Request Form. Download the form, fill it out, and submit through one of the methods listed above. Having the form completed before you contact the department helps speed up the process.
The Indiana Public Access Counselor has previously issued an advisory document (11-INF-26) related to Schererville Police Department records, available at in.gov/pac. That document provides context on how APRA applies to this department. If you encounter issues with your request, the PAC is reachable at 317-233-9435 or 1-800-228-6013.
Note: The department also has an anonymous crime tip hotline. Use the non-emergency line at 219-322-5000 for non-tip matters. The tip line is separate from the records request process.
Online Portals for Schererville Records
The Schererville town website at schererville.org has the records request page. The document center at schererville.org/egov hosts downloadable forms. The staff directory at in-schererville.corebtdev.com lists department personnel with contact details.
Lake County operates a centralized APRA portal at 911.lakecounty.in.gov/apra for county-level records requests including 911 dispatch records. This is separate from the Schererville PD's own records system. Use the Lake County portal for county 911 records and the Schererville department's own request process for city police records.
The Schererville PD Instagram at instagram.com/scherervillepolice occasionally posts community safety information. Keep in mind the account is not monitored around the clock, so it should not be used for urgent matters or as a substitute for official records requests.
Lake County Sheriff Records
The Lake County Sheriff's Office covers incidents in unincorporated parts of Lake County outside Schererville's town limits. If you are unsure whether an incident occurred within the town or in the county, contact either the Schererville PD or the Sheriff's Office. They can redirect you to the right agency. Lake County has several other municipalities with their own police departments, so jurisdiction questions come up regularly in this area. See the Lake County page for Sheriff's Office contact details and records information.
Schererville Court Records
Police blotter records from Schererville incidents that lead to criminal charges appear in the Lake County court system. You can search Lake County Superior Court records through the Indiana MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov. Search by name or case number to find case filings, charges, court dates, and outcomes. MyCase is free and accessible to the public. The court records and police records are separate systems, but MyCase connects the legal outcomes to the blotter data you found through the police department.
Accident Reports in Schererville
Crash reports for incidents in Schererville are available through BuyCrash.com, Indiana's statewide accident report portal. Most reports cost $5 to $12 depending on how you access them. Search by report number, date, or parties involved. For accidents on US-30, I-80, or I-94 near Schererville, the Indiana State Police may hold the primary report. ISP reports are also available through BuyCrash. If a report isn't showing up online, it may still be in processing. Contact the Schererville PD or ISP directly if you need confirmation.
Indiana State Police Resources for Schererville
The Indiana State Police covers major highway corridors through the Schererville area, including US-30 and I-80/94. ISP holds records for incidents on those routes. To request ISP records, use the ISP APRA portal at in.accessgov.com. This system accepts online submissions and routes them to the appropriate ISP records team.
The Indiana State Police website at in.gov/isp provides links to crime data, APRA tools, and agency contacts across the state. For incidents in Schererville town limits, the Schererville PD is the primary contact. For state highway incidents, ISP holds those records.
Public Records Law in Schererville
Indiana Code § 5-14-3 governs police blotter access in Schererville. Most blotter data is public. Names, dates, locations, and general incident descriptions are releasable. Active investigation files may be withheld. Juvenile records are not released. Personal identifiers are redacted. You do not have to give a reason when requesting records under Indiana law.
Agencies must acknowledge written requests within seven days and in-person requests within 24 hours. If denied, the agency must cite the specific statute allowing the denial and name the responsible official. The Indiana Public Access Counselor at in.gov/pac handles complaints and issues informal opinions at no cost. The PAC has previously issued an advisory specific to the Schererville PD (11-INF-26), which you can reference if you face resistance in a future request. Reach the PAC at 317-233-9435 or 1-800-228-6013.
Note: You cannot be charged a fee to view records in person. Fees only apply to copies you take with you.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
Schererville sits in the heart of Lake County's suburban corridor. Several other qualifying Indiana cities with police blotter records are close by.