Tacoma Arrest Records
Tacoma arrest records are processed through the Tacoma Police Department's public disclosure office and, for dispatch-related records, through South Sound 911. Tacoma is the third-largest city in Washington and has its own police department with a dedicated public disclosure officer. Under Washington's Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, the city must respond to records requests within five business days. This page covers how to request Tacoma arrest records, what fees apply, how to access the Pierce County jail roster, and what statewide tools are available.
Tacoma Overview
Tacoma Public Disclosure Office
The Tacoma Police Department's public disclosure officer is James Kauffman. You can reach him at (253) 231-0240, email publicdisclosure@tacoma.gov, or fax (253) 502-8598. Mailed requests go to PO Box 11007, Tacoma, WA 98411. In-person appointments are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at two locations: the Tacoma Public Utilities Building at 3628 South 35th Street and the Tacoma Municipal Building at 733 Market Street, Suite 220.
The Tacoma Public Records Office provides a clear overview of the disclosure process.
The page shown above is the main resource for Tacoma public records. It links to the request portal, lists the two in-person locations, and explains what types of records are available from each office.
One important detail: body-worn camera videos from Tacoma Police can only be viewed in person at the Tacoma Public Utilities Building location. You cannot receive BWC footage electronically. If you need to review BWC video, you must schedule an appointment at that specific address.
South Sound 911 coordinates incident reports and CAD records for Tacoma Police. That means some records, particularly police incident reports and 911 call data, may be routed through South Sound 911 rather than the city's public disclosure office. If you are not sure who holds a specific document, start with the public disclosure office at the numbers above and they can direct you.
Tacoma Records Fees and What to Expect
Beginning August 1, 2025, Tacoma implemented a fee schedule for public records. In-person inspection by appointment remains free. Printed paper copies on standard 8.5x11 paper cost $0.15 per page. Scanned copies are $0.10 per page. Electronic files and attachments run $0.05 per set of four files. Electronic transmission costs $0.10 per gigabyte. Body-worn camera footage carries a fee of $0.49 per minute of redaction work.
For large requests, Tacoma requires a deposit of 10% of the estimated total fee before processing begins. This deposit is not refundable if you later cancel the request. It is applied to the final cost when records are released. If you are unsure about the cost of your request, ask the public disclosure officer for an estimate before submitting.
The five-business-day response window applies to the initial acknowledgment of your request. Full production of records can take longer depending on the size of the request and whether redaction is needed. For major requests, especially those involving BWC footage, plan for a multi-week process.
| Public Disclosure Officer | James Kauffman |
|---|---|
| Phone | (253) 231-0240 |
| publicdisclosure@tacoma.gov | |
| Fax | (253) 502-8598 |
| PO Box 11007, Tacoma, WA 98411 | |
| Location 1 | 3628 South 35th Street (TPU Building) |
| Location 2 | 733 Market Street, Suite 220 (Municipal Building) |
| Hours | Mon-Fri, 8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm |
| BWC Video Viewing | TPU Building only, by appointment |
Note: For large requests, Tacoma requires a 10% deposit of the estimated fee before production begins.
Pierce County Jail and Booking Records
When Tacoma Police make an arrest, the person is typically booked into the Pierce County Jail. The Pierce County Corrections Bureau runs the jail and maintains an online roster of current inmates. The roster shows names, booking dates, charges, and bail status and updates regularly. This is the quickest way to check if someone is currently in custody after a Tacoma arrest.
The WATCH portal is the fastest tool for checking statewide criminal history in Washington.
The WATCH portal shown above costs $11 per search and returns name-based criminal history results from across Washington. Results include convictions from Pierce County and all other Washington counties, making it useful for Tacoma arrest history checks.
Basic booking information is always public under RCW 70.48.100. This includes the person's name, the booking date, and the cause of arrest. Arrest records can also include incident reports and officer notes, but those documents may be reviewed before release. Crime victim details and active investigative content may be withheld under RCW 42.56 exemptions.
For custody status alerts, VINELink provides free notifications when someone's status changes at the Pierce County Jail. Register by phone, email, or text to get updates without calling the jail each time. This service is free and works for most county jails in Washington.
Statewide and County Tools
Beyond Tacoma's own records systems, several statewide tools can help you find arrest information. The Washington Courts name search covers case filings, charges, and dispositions across Superior, District, and Municipal Courts statewide. Tacoma felony cases go to Pierce County Superior Court. Misdemeanor and infraction cases are handled by Tacoma Municipal Court.
Pierce County LINX is a local online search portal at linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us. LINX allows searches of Pierce County records including property and other county data. It is worth checking if you need records tied to county systems rather than the city of Tacoma specifically.
The Washington State Patrol's criminal history page at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history covers what criminal history records include, who can access them, and when a fingerprint-based check is needed versus a name-based WATCH search. Fingerprint checks return more complete results but take longer. WATCH is faster for most routine lookups.
The Washington Attorney General's public records guide at atg.wa.gov/obtaining-records explains your rights under RCW 42.56 and what to do if a request is denied. Tacoma, like all Washington public agencies, must follow this law when responding to records requests.
Pierce County Arrest Records
Tacoma is the county seat of Pierce County. All Tacoma arrests are booked into the Pierce County Jail, and county-level resources cover the entire Tacoma area. For more on county arrest records and booking information, see the Pierce County page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Tacoma and have public disclosure options for arrest records and police documents.