Find Arrest Records in University Place
University Place arrest records are handled through a contract arrangement: the City of University Place does not maintain its own police force in the traditional sense. Since 1995, the city has contracted with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department to provide law enforcement services through the University Place Police Department. This means arrest records, police reports, and booking data from University Place are routed through Pierce County systems rather than a standalone city department. Washington's Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, applies to both the city and the county, and responses are required within five business days.
University Place Overview
University Place Police Department
The University Place Police Department is located at 3612 Drexler Drive W, University Place, WA 98466. The department's main phone number is 253.798.4058. For emergency situations, call 911. The fax number is 253.798.4867. The department includes one Chief, two Sergeants, 19 Deputies, one School Liaison Officer, one Investigator, and one Community Outreach Officer. Because this is a contract arrangement with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, the staffing and records systems all tie back to Pierce County infrastructure.
A key point: police reports from University Place are not maintained by the City itself. If you need a police report or arrest record tied to a University Place incident, you must contact the Pierce County Sheriff's Department or South Sound 911, not City Hall. The city's public records office handles city-government documents, but law enforcement records are a county function here.
The University Place public records page covers what city records are available and how to submit requests.
The page shown above explains the city's public records process under Ordinance 478 and Chapter 42.56 RCW. It lists what records the city maintains and how to submit a formal request. For police records specifically, you will be directed to Pierce County systems.
| Department | University Place Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 3612 Drexler Drive W, University Place, WA 98466 |
| Phone | 253.798.4058 |
| Fax | 253.798.4867 |
| Emergency | 911 |
| Police Reports | Contact South Sound 911: (253) 287-4900 |
| City Office Hours | Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm |
| Governing Law | Chapter 42.56 RCW; Ordinance 478 |
How to Request University Place Arrest Records
For police reports and arrest records from University Place incidents, contact the Pierce County Sheriff's Department public records office. The Public Records Officer is Nathan Rose. You can reach him by email at PARpublicrecords@piercecountywa.gov or by phone at (253) 798-4085. The Pierce County Public Disclosure office number is (253) 798-4800. For incident reports specifically linked to dispatch records, call South Sound 911 at (253) 287-4900.
Pierce County maintains an online public records portal for submitting formal requests. That portal is at piercecountywa.gov/5243/Public-Records-Request. You can use it to submit new requests and track the status of existing ones. This is the recommended method for most people looking for arrest or police report records tied to University Place.
The University Place police page gives an overview of services and explains the contract structure with Pierce County.
The police page shown above confirms the department's contract arrangement with Pierce County and lists contact information for the department. It is a useful reference for understanding who handles what type of records in University Place.
The city does handle some public records independently, such as municipal permits, city council records, and other government documents. Those go through City Hall at the standard office hours of Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. But for anything involving a police report or arrest, Pierce County is the correct contact.
Pierce County Fees and Booking Records
Pierce County uses a fee schedule that applies to records from University Place the same as all other areas in the county. Printed copies cost $0.15 per page. Electronic files are $0.10 per gigabyte of transmission. Body-worn camera footage carries a redaction fee of $0.63 per minute. For large requests, Pierce County may require a deposit before processing begins.
All University Place arrests are booked into the Pierce County Jail. The Pierce County Corrections Bureau maintains an online jail roster that updates regularly. It shows current inmates by name, booking date, listed charges, and bail information. To check on a person's custody status by phone, call (253) 798-4590. That line handles booking status questions without requiring a formal records request.
RCW 70.48.100 requires public jail registers to be available for inspection. Basic booking data is always public. That includes the name of the person arrested, the date of booking, and the listed cause for the arrest. More detailed records, such as incident reports and officer notes, may go through a review process before they are released. If victim information or active investigative details are involved, those portions may be withheld under RCW 42.56 exemptions.
For custody status notifications, VINELink provides free alerts when someone's custody status changes at the Pierce County Jail. You can register by phone, email, or text. This is especially useful if you need to track when a person is released without calling the jail each day.
Note: Police reports from University Place incidents are not held by the City. Contact Pierce County at (253) 798-4085 or South Sound 911 at (253) 287-4900 for arrest records and incident reports.
Statewide Tools for Arrest Records
Beyond Pierce County's systems, several statewide tools help you find arrest information tied to University Place. The Washington Courts name search at dw.courts.wa.gov is free to use. It covers case filings, charges, and dispositions across Superior, District, and Municipal Courts statewide. Felony arrests from University Place go to Pierce County Superior Court. Other cases may be handled at the Pierce County District Court level.
The WATCH portal at the Washington State Patrol lets you run a name-based criminal history check for $11.
The WATCH portal shown above returns conviction-level records from across Washington, including Pierce County. It is the fastest statewide tool for checking whether someone has a criminal history in Washington beyond what shows up in local court records.
The Washington State Patrol's criminal history division at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history covers how the WATCH system works and when a fingerprint-based check may be more appropriate. WATCH is name-based and fast. A fingerprint check is more thorough but takes more steps and is typically used for official background check purposes rather than general public lookups.
RCW 10.97.050 governs how conviction and non-conviction records can be used. Conviction records are fully public. Records where charges were dropped or the person was not convicted may have limited release options under state law. Keep that in mind when reviewing arrest-level data that may not have resulted in a formal charge or conviction.
The Washington Attorney General's public records guide at atg.wa.gov/obtaining-records explains your rights under RCW 42.56 and what recourse you have if a request is denied. Both the City of University Place and Pierce County must follow this law.
Pierce County Arrest Records
University Place is fully within Pierce County, and all arrest records from the area flow through Pierce County's corrections and records systems. For a full overview of Pierce County arrest record resources, booking procedures, and how to access county jail data, see the Pierce County page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near University Place have arrest records available through their own police departments or county systems.