Following up on a police report can provide you with answers about your case faster than waiting for someone to contact you. It is perfectly fine to be proactive and find out what is going on with a report, and there are several different ways to contact the police department where the report is being investigated and/or stored.

Go Directly to the Source

Visit the police department's Records Office and ask to check on the status of your report. You will need a picture ID, in most cases, and the report number along with the date the report was filed. If you do not want to appear in person at the station, you may look up the department's website and see if they offer an email address or a phone number for their records department. Many police departments now allow you to download a "Request for Record" form online, which can be mailed in or dropped off at the Records Department. By dropping off the form in person, you may have access to the copy of your report faster than if you walked in with no request form because all of your information will already be filled out. And if you choose to mail the application in, be prepared to send in a self-addressed stamped envelope so the department can send you a working copy of the report.

Tips

Be prepared to pay a small fee for requesting a copy of your report. Police reports are public records, but the department may charge you to cover the cost of labor and materials. While checking the status of a report does not necessarily mean getting a copy of the whole report, a records clerk will most likely not have time to go through your individual report to let you know what's going on, except to say that it is closed or still under investigation.

Source:

City of San Antonio Police

Spokane Police Department: Records Division

City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Police Department FAQ