Fort Wayne, IN – The Fort Wayne Police Department announced a major change this week to how residents can obtain police reports and law enforcement recordings. All requests must now be submitted online through the department’s Next Request portal, which requires a valid email address.
According to the department, walk-in requests for police reports — except for crash reports — will no longer be processed at the front desk. Instead, all submissions will be reviewed before release through the online system. Department staff will still assist residents in navigating the new process if needed.
Police stated that all requests for public records, reports, or recordings will be handled in accordance with Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA), Indiana Code 5-14-3. While many records are public, not all will be eligible for release.
Officials also reminded defendants in ongoing criminal cases to obtain police reports or body camera footage through their attorney via the standard discovery process, not through the public records portal.
Residents can access the request system and additional information via their website.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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