Search Palmer Police Records

Palmer police records are handled by the Palmer Police Department, which requires written requests submitted using the department's official form. You can look up incident reports, crash records, and other police documents tied to activity in Palmer. This page covers the request process, applicable fees, processing timelines, and related resources including court case lookups through CourtView, statewide criminal history checks, and Alaska State Trooper coverage for areas outside city limits.

Palmer Police Department Records

The Palmer Police Department handles records for incidents within Palmer's city limits. It is the main law enforcement agency for the city and shares MATCOM dispatch with Alaska State Troopers. All records requests must be submitted in writing using the department's Public Records Request Form.

The records request page is at palmerak.org/police/page/public-record-requests-police-department. General city records requests go through a separate form at palmerak.org/city-managers-office/page/records-request. Make sure you use the police-specific form for incident and crash records.

The request form asks for your name, contact information, any organization you represent, and details about the incident: date, time, location, case number if you have it, names of people involved, and your role (victim, witness, or defendant). Being specific on these fields helps the department locate the right records faster.

Palmer Police Records Fees and Processing

Fees depend on the type of record you request. Photos are $10 per report, plus $0.35 per page for anything over 10 pages. Audio records cost $20 per incident, plus $0.54 per minute for review time and $5.40 per minute for redaction work. Video records are $50 per incident, with the same review and redaction rates as audio.

All fees are pre-paid and non-refundable. Payment must be cash or check only. The city does not accept credit cards or online payments for police records. Your request will not be processed until payment is received. If records are ultimately found to be exempt, the fee is not returned.

Processing takes up to 10 business days under the Alaska Public Records Act. The department can extend that window by another 10 business days if the records need additional review. You will receive written notice if an extension applies. The clock starts when your request is received, unless the report is not yet complete at that time. In that case, the effective date shifts to when the report is finished.

Adjudication holds apply to records where criminal charges are pending. Palmer PD will not release those records until the District Attorney sends an unrestriction notice. For crash reports involving criminal charges, the collision portion of the report may be released separately while the rest remains on hold.

A non-litigation certification is required before Palmer PD will process most records requests. This is a short statement that you are not requesting the records for use in active litigation. It is part of the standard request form.

Palmer Trial Court Records

Palmer is the seat of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the location of the Palmer Superior Court. Court case records for the region are searchable for free through CourtView, the Alaska Court System's public search tool. You can look up case numbers, party names, charges, and hearing dates through the online portal.

The screenshot below shows the Alaska Trial Court Records request page, which covers how to order certified copies of court documents from Palmer and other Alaska courthouses.

If you need official copies rather than just a case lookup, use form TF-311 PA for Palmer. Online requests take roughly two to four weeks. In-person requests at the Palmer courthouse are often available the same day for current records. Certified copies cost $10 plus $3 per page. Plain copies cost $5 plus $3 per page. Research requests are billed at $30 per hour. See courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts for details and instructions.

The screenshot below shows the CourtView case search tool, which is free to use and covers cases from courts across Alaska including Palmer Superior Court.

CourtView is governed by AS 22.35.030. Cases involving juveniles are not shown. Records from cases ending in dismissal or acquittal may be sealed if the defendant requests it. Most adult criminal and civil cases are visible to the public.

Alaska State Troopers in Palmer

Alaska State Troopers Detachment B has its headquarters at 453 S Valley Way in Palmer, the same address as the DPS office. The commanding officer is Captain Hans Brinke, reachable at 907-746-9135. Lt. Derek DeGraaf serves as deputy commander at 907-746-9127. Lt. Tom Dunn can be reached at 907-373-8333.

AST covers areas outside Palmer city limits throughout the Mat-Su Valley. If an incident you are researching happened outside city limits, the records may be held by AST rather than Palmer PD. MATCOM dispatch handles calls for both agencies and can be reached at 907-352-5401.

AST's online crime reporting tool is at dps.alaska.gov/AST/CrimeReport. Use it for non-emergency incidents where there is no active threat. It is not for firearm thefts, drug crimes, or vehicle thefts. Those require a phone call or in-person report. For anonymous tips, call Mat-Su Crime Stoppers at 907-745-2333.

Criminal History Background Checks

Alaska DPS processes criminal history checks through its online portal at backgroundcheck.dps.alaska.gov. The fee is $20. Results are sent by email after the request is processed.

The DPS Palmer office accepts walk-in requests at 453 S Valley Way, Palmer, AK 99645. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Phone: 907-745-2131. Walk-in requests and online requests both use the same record source and reflect the same data.

Criminal history records cover Alaska arrests, charges, and case dispositions. They are governed by AS 12.62. Records from other states are not included. If you need out-of-state history, you must contact those jurisdictions directly or go through a federal background check system.

Sex Offender Registry

The Alaska Sex Offender Registry is free to search at sor.dps.alaska.gov. You can search by name, zip code, or address. The registry lists more than 3,640 registered offenders statewide. Entries show the offender's name, photo, current address, and offense information.

Registration is required under AS 12.63.100. HB 66, effective July 2024, updated rules around registration and notification obligations. The DPS maintains the registry and updates it on a regular basis. If you believe an entry is inaccurate, contact the DPS Records and Identification Bureau directly.

Daily Dispatch and Recent Activity

The Alaska DPS Daily Dispatch at dailydispatch.dps.alaska.gov logs recent law enforcement activity across the state. You can search by date and filter by area. For Palmer and the Mat-Su Valley, look for entries under Detachment B. Entries are brief summaries and are not full incident reports, but they are a quick way to confirm recent activity or check a date.

Mat-Su Borough Public Records

Palmer serves as the seat of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Borough-level records, separate from city police records, are available through matsu.gov/public-records. A financial transparency portal is at transparency.matsugov.us. For more on borough-level records resources, see the Matanuska-Susitna Borough police records page.

Alaska Public Records Act

All requests for Palmer police records fall under the Alaska Public Records Act at AS 40.25.100-295. Agencies must respond within 10 business days. Denials must identify the specific exemption used. You can appeal a denial within 60 working days.

Common exemptions include active investigation records, records that could compromise a pending prosecution, and records identifying confidential sources. If you are denied access to records you believe are public, Alaska Legal Services Corporation at alsc-law.org may be able to provide guidance.

Nearby Cities

These Alaska cities also have dedicated police records pages.