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    Bellevue Police Officers

    Requests for records in the custody of the Bellevue Police Department can be made via our Public Records Center, with the exception of Jeanne Clery Act Requests (please submit by email to BPDRecords@BellevueWA.gov or mail to the address below, ATTN: Clery Request). Information about the process is available in the records center, including timelines and possible fees.

    Police records include case reports, collision reports, photographs, and audio/video associated with police cases. Requests must be for existing identifiable records relating to the conduct of Bellevue Police business and prepared, owned, used, or retained by the Bellevue Police Department.

    You may enter a public records request into the Public Records Center or make your request by mail. Please address records requests by mail to:

    Bellevue Police Department
    ATTN: Police Records Request
    P.O. Box 90012
    Bellevue, WA 98009

    You may be required to pay a fee for physical, electronic, body camera, or other records, please refer to the fee schedule.

    • 911 calls/tapes: The North East King County Regional Public Safety Communication Agency (NORCOM) dispatches several local police and fire departments, including Bellevue's, and is responsible for releasing 911 calls/tapes.
    • Criminal history records: You may contact the Washington State Patrol WATCH program for a statewide criminal history check.

    Redactions or Exemptions

    All police records are available for review by the public unless they are specifically exempted or prohibited from disclosure by the public record laws. RCW Chapter 42.56 (the Public Records Act) discusses exemptions applicable to many government records. This non-exhaustive list includes, but is not limited to, common exemptions and prohibition statutes not listed in the Public Records Act commonly applied to police records (common public disclosure exemptions).

    The Attorney General’s Office also provides a list of public disclosure exemptions created annually by the Washington State Code Reviser’s Office. 

    Clearance Letters

    You can request a clearance letter by mail at:

    • Bellevue Police Department, P.O. Box 90012, Bellevue, WA 98009
    • clearance letters require a photocopy of government ID, as well as your current and any previous Bellevue addresses
    • $10 fee (exact cash or check made out to City of Bellevue)

    Body-Worn Camera Records

    You can request a copy of body-worn camera footage/video/recording, but there is additional information you should be aware of.

    Washington law specifies what is required for a request for body-worn camera video to be valid (see RCW 42.56.240(14) for further). A request must include:

    1. The name of a person or persons involved in the incident; 
    2. The incident or case number;
    3. The date, time, and location of the incident or incidents; or
    4. The identification of a law enforcement or corrections officer involved in the incident or incidents.

    Washington law limits disclosure of body-worn camera videos in certain circumstances (see RCW 42.56.240(14) for further), such as when a video:

    1. Contains images of any areas of a medical facility, counseling, or therapeutic program office;
    2. Contains information that meets the definition of protected health information;
    3. Contains images of the interior of a place of residence where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy;
    4. Contains images defined in the RCW as "intimate," i.e., nudity, partial nudity, sexually explicit content;
    5. Contains images of an identifiable minor;
    6. Contains images of a deceased person;
    7. Contains the identity or communications from a victim or witness of an incident involving domestic violence or sexual assault; or
    8. Contains images from an incident where a domestic violence or sexual assault victim or witness indicates a desire for non-disclosure of their recorded identity or communications.

    In the above scenarios, Bellevue PD may release the video with the relevant video/audio redacted (blurred or blocked out) and/or audio redacted (sound removed). If none of the above scenarios exist, the video may be released un-redacted, unless another exemption is applicable.

    Washington law identifies exceptions for the disclosure of offensive or private videos listed as not subject to disclosure (see RCW 42.56.240(14) for further). You can receive a copy of video state law defines not disclosable to the public if:

    1. You are directly involved in the incident;
    2. You are an attorney representing someone involved in the incident for the relevant criminal case and explain the relevancy of the requested video;
    3. You are an Executive Director from the Washington State Commission on African-American Affairs, Asian-Pacific Affairs, or Hispanic Affairs;
    4. You are an attorney who represents a person in a potential or existing civil cause of action involving the denial of civil rights under the federal or state constitution, or a violation of a United States Department of Justice settlement agreement and explain the relevancy of the requested video.

    Please visit our Public Records Request Center for information on how to request copies of records.