Fort Wayne, IN – Residents seeking police reports or law enforcement recordings from the Fort Wayne Police Department will now need to submit requests online, following a department-wide procedural change announced this week.
According to the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD), all requests for police reports, public records, or law enforcement recordings must be submitted through the Next Request online portal. A valid email address is required, and records will no longer be released at the police desk while citizens wait.
FWPD officials say the change applies to all police reports except crash reports, which are handled separately. Requests submitted through Next Request will be reviewed before any records are released, and approval or denial will be determined in accordance with Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA) under Indiana Code 5-14-3.
While many police reports are considered public records, the department emphasized that not all reports are eligible for release, depending on the circumstances of the case and state law exemptions.
Staff members may still assist residents in submitting online requests, but walk-in requests will no longer result in same-day report delivery. Officials say the updated system is intended to improve tracking, consistency, and compliance with state records laws.
FWPD also issued an important clarification for individuals involved in active criminal cases. Defendants seeking access to police reports, dash camera footage, or body-worn camera video are advised to contact their attorney and obtain materials through the formal discovery process, rather than submitting a public records request.
Residents can begin submitting requests immediately by visiting fwpd.org, where the Next Request portal is accessible. A QR code linking directly to the request system has also been shared by the department.
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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