Anchorage Police Records

Anchorage police records are managed by the Anchorage Police Department, which runs a dedicated Public Records Center for requests. You can search for incident reports, crash records, and related documents online or by contacting the APD Records Unit directly. This page covers how to find and request police records in Anchorage, what forms you may need, and where to turn for court case lookups, criminal history checks, and other public safety records.

APD Public Records Center

The Anchorage Police Department runs its own online records portal. You submit requests through the APD Public Records Center, which handles both document requests and media requests. These are treated as two separate request types, so you need to file them apart from each other if you want both.

Each request should cover one case number. If you need records from multiple incidents, file a separate request for each one. The online portal walks you through the steps, and APD has posted tutorial videos on its website to help people who aren't sure how the system works.

The records window at APD headquarters is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. You can also reach the Records Unit by phone at 907-786-8600. For non-emergency matters, call 3-1-1 or the main line at 907-786-8900.

The full APD phone directory is available on their website. You can find direct numbers for the Evidence Unit (907-786-8660, option 1), Impounds (907-786-8923), and other divisions from that page.

Consent Forms for Personal Records

If you are requesting records about yourself or someone you represent, APD requires a consent form. There are three types depending on the situation. Use the Adult Consent Form if you are requesting your own records. Use the Adult with Guardian Consent Form if you are acting as a legal guardian for another adult. Use the Juvenile Consent Form when the records involve a minor.

These forms exist because certain records are restricted under Alaska law. AS 12.61.110, AS 12.61.140, and AMC 3.90.020 govern how APD handles redactions and what can be released. Some details in a report, like victim information or ongoing investigation notes, may be withheld even when a request is approved. APD will note what was removed and why when returning a partially redacted record.

Crash Reports

APD handles crash reports through a separate section of its website. Visit the crash reports page to request a copy of a collision record. One thing to know: APD can only retrieve reports online if the crash occurred after September 1, 2012. Older reports require a different process, so call the Records Unit at 907-786-8600 for help with those.

The screenshot below shows the APD crash reports request portal, where you can look up collision records by case number or date.

Most crash reports are available within a few business days of the incident. If you were involved in a crash, you can reference the case number the officer gave you at the scene to speed up the search.

Online Crime Reporting

APD lets residents file certain reports online through its online reporting system. Not every type of incident qualifies, but the list covers quite a few common situations. You can use it for drug information tips, fraud and identity theft reports, harassment, lost property, shoplift incidents, theft, and vandalism.

Online reports are best for cases where there is no active threat and no suspect on the scene. If a crime is happening right now or someone is in danger, call 911. For anything else that is not an emergency, the online tool saves a trip to the station and creates a record right away.

Property and Evidence

APD's Property and Evidence unit takes in about 45,000 pieces each year and currently holds more than 200,000 items. If you need to claim property connected to a case, you must schedule an appointment. Call 907-786-8660 and press option 1 to set up a time. Walk-ins are not accepted. More details about what to bring and how the process works are on the Property and Evidence page.

The Pawn Unit is a related resource. Anchorage has nine licensed pawn shops, and APD tracks items sold or pawned through a serialized property alert system. Pawn holds last 60 days; purchase holds last 30 days. If you think stolen property ended up in a pawn shop, the Pawn Unit may be able to help. See anchoragepolice.com/pawn-shops for details.

The image below shows the APD Pawn Unit page, which explains how the department tracks items through licensed pawn shops in the city.

The pawn tracking system is one of the ways APD tries to recover stolen goods. If an item with a serial number shows up at a pawn shop and it matches a theft report, the hold system lets APD act before the item is resold.

CourtView: Case Records Online

For court case records in Anchorage, use CourtView, the Alaska Court System's public case search tool. CourtView lets you look up case numbers, party names, hearing dates, charges, and case status for cases filed in Alaska courts. Anchorage cases go through the Third Judicial District, which covers much of Southcentral Alaska.

CourtView is free to use. You don't need an account to run a basic search. Keep in mind that some records are sealed or restricted, and cases involving juveniles are generally not shown. Under AS 22.35.030, records from cases that ended in acquittal or dismissal may also be sealed upon request.

If you need official copies of court documents, you can request them through the Alaska Trial Court Records system. Certified copies cost $10 plus $3 per page. Plain document copies cost $5 plus $3 per page. Research requests involving staff time are billed at $30 per hour. See courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts for more on how to order records.

Criminal History Background Checks

Alaska DPS processes criminal history background checks through its online self-service portal. You can request your own criminal history record or a name-based check by visiting backgroundcheck.dps.alaska.gov. The fee is $20 per report. Results are sent by email.

The DPS Records and Identification Bureau handles these requests. Their office is at 5700 E Tudor Rd, Anchorage. You can reach them at 907-269-5767. Criminal history records are governed by AS 12.62, which sets rules on who can access certain types of records and how they can be used.

A criminal history check through DPS shows arrests, charges, and dispositions in Alaska. It does not pull records from other states or federal courts. For a broader search, you would need to check with other jurisdictions separately.

Sex Offender Registry

Alaska's Sex Offender Registry is free to search at sor.dps.alaska.gov. The registry currently lists more than 3,640 entries statewide. You can search by name, address, or zip code to find registered offenders in the Anchorage area.

Registration requirements are set under AS 12.63.100. HB 66, which took effect in July 2024, updated some of the rules around registration and notification. The registry shows the offender's name, photo, address, and offense details. It is maintained by the DPS and updated regularly.

Daily Dispatch and Recent Activity

Alaska DPS publishes a Daily Dispatch that logs recent law enforcement activity across the state. You can search by date and location. For Anchorage-specific activity, filter by the Anchorage area or check recent entries from APD. The dispatch reports are brief summaries and do not include full incident details, but they are useful for checking recent calls or looking up a specific date.

Alaska Public Records Act

All records requests in Anchorage, whether to APD or another city or state agency, fall under the Alaska Public Records Act (APRA). The act is found at AS 40.25.100-295. Agencies have 10 business days to respond to a records request. If they deny your request or do not respond in time, you can appeal. The appeal window is 60 working days.

APRA covers most government records, but some categories are exempt. Law enforcement records related to open investigations, records that could compromise a prosecution, and records that identify confidential sources are among the common exemptions. When an agency withholds records, it must say which exemption applies.

If you believe a denial was improper, you can appeal to the agency's head or pursue other remedies under state law. Alaska legal aid organizations and the state public defender's office may be able to help with disputes over access to records.

Anchorage Municipality Records

Anchorage is a unified home-rule municipality. City and borough functions are combined. For more on records held at the municipal level, including other types of public records beyond police reports, visit the Anchorage Municipality records page.

Nearby Cities

These other Alaska cities also have dedicated police records pages.