Police Department Open Records Request

Most open records requests directed to the Germantown Police Department will receive a reply within 10 working days. Please either complete the form below or stop in at the Germantown Police Department to pick up the open records request paperwork. 

OPEN RECORDS REQUEST FORM

Availability of Records

The Wisconsin public records law authorizes requesters to inspect or obtain copies of records maintained by government authorities. Records are presumed to be open to the public for inspection with some specific exceptions. A request may be denied, in whole or in part, for specific and sufficient reasons. The requirements of the public record law also exist at the time the request is made and does not require authorities to provide information if no responsive record exists. Generally, the law also does not require authorities to create new records in order to fulfill requests.

  • Pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.35(3) (c), a fee for locating a record not exceeding the actual, necessary and direct cost of location, may be imposed upon the requester if the cost is $50 or more.
  • Pursuant to Wis. Stat 19.35(3) (f), a prepayment may be required for reproduction costs if the total is $5 or more.

Fee Schedule

Record TypeCost
Accident Report $2.00
Audio / Video Recording$15.00
Fax Copy (per page)$0.25
Incident Report / Witness Statement (per page, per side)$0.25
Reproduced Photo (per CD / DVD)$2.00
Reproduced Photo (per photo)$1.00


Wisconsin Criminal History Background Checks

The Germantown Police Department is not authorized by law to release state criminal history records. For criminal history records please submit a Criminal History Request Form and mail to:

Crime Information Bureau
Attn: Records Check Unit
P.O. Box 2688
Madison, WI 53701-2688

Any questions should be directed to the Wisconsin Crime Information Bureau at 608-266-7314

Department of Transportation Records

The Germantown Police Department is not authorized to release Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) records. For driver license records and/or vehicle records, a Vehicle / Driver Information Request Form (MV2896) needs to be completed and mailed to:

Vehicle Records
WisDOT                                                                                                              
P.O. Box 7995 
Madison, WI 53707-7995

More information may be found by calling Wisconsin DOT at 608-264-7447