Search Dayton Police Records
Dayton police records are available through the Dayton Police Department at 335 West Third Street. The department uses a NextRequest portal for online public records submissions, which makes it easy to file and track requests from home. Dayton is the county seat of Montgomery County in southwest Ohio. The city police handle records for all incidents within city limits. Ohio law under ORC 149.43 guarantees your right to access these records. You can request police reports, accident reports, and other files without giving a reason for your request.
Dayton Police Records Overview
Dayton Police Department Records
The Dayton Police Department is at 335 West Third Street, Dayton, OH 45402. Police Records: (937) 333-1060. Non-Emergency: (937) 333-2677. Fax: (937) 333-4269. The Office of Communications and Public Affairs handles records requests from City Hall, 2nd Floor, at 101 West Third Street.
Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can call during those hours to check on a request or ask about fees. Walk-in visits are welcome at the police building or City Hall. The department does not post a detailed fee schedule on its website, so call the records line at (937) 333-1060 for current copy costs before making a trip.
Available records include police reports, accident reports, department policies, and crime statistics. Dayton police records cover everything from minor incidents to major felony investigations, though active investigation files may be withheld under Ohio's exemption for confidential law enforcement investigatory records.
Dayton Police Records Online Portal
Dayton uses the NextRequest system for public records submissions. You can visit the Dayton public records page to access the portal. The screenshot below shows the city's records and services page.
The NextRequest portal lets you submit a records request online, describe what you need, and track the status of your request from start to finish. You get email updates when the department responds. This is more convenient than calling or mailing in a request, especially if you are not local. The system also keeps a record of your past requests so you can go back and check on them later.
Dayton also offers online reporting for certain non-emergency incidents. This lets you file a new police report for minor crimes where there is no suspect present. Once the report is filed, you get a case number. You can then request a copy through the NextRequest portal or by calling the records line.
Dayton Crash Reports
Crash reports from Dayton police are available through the Ohio DPS Crash Retrieval System. This state tool is free to use. Wait at least seven business days after the crash before you search. Some reports need up to six weeks to appear in the database.
BuyCrash.com offers another way to search for Dayton crash reports. If the report is not in any online system yet, call (937) 333-1060. For crashes on state highways near Dayton, the Ohio State Highway Patrol may hold the report instead of the city police.
Note: Dayton crash reports involving ongoing investigations may be delayed while the investigating officer completes supplemental reports.
Montgomery County and Dayton
Dayton is the county seat of Montgomery County. The city police keep their own records. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office handles police records for unincorporated parts of the county. If your incident happened outside Dayton city limits, contact the Sheriff's Office instead.
Felony cases from Dayton go to the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk of Courts keeps court records separate from the police department's files. Misdemeanor cases stay in Dayton Municipal Court. An arrest by Dayton police creates a city police record, but once the case enters the court system, the Clerk takes over the file. You may need to contact both offices depending on what you need. The police report is one thing. The court file with indictments, plea deals, and sentencing is another.
Dayton Police Video and Camera Footage
Body camera and dash camera footage from Dayton police is available under Ohio public records law. Ohio House Bill 315 allows the department to charge up to $75 per hour for reviewing and redacting video. The cap is $750 per request. A written cost estimate is required before work starts. If the cost is too high, you can narrow your request or pull it back.
Crime victims can often get footage from their cases at no cost. Marsy's Law protections mean victim faces and details get blurred before release. The Ohio Sunshine Laws Manual lays out the rules for body camera footage, dash camera video, and the line between mandatory and discretionary exemptions. The manual is updated each year by the Attorney General's office.
Ohio Resources for Dayton Records
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation runs background checks that cover Dayton. BCI state checks cost $22. FBI checks are $35. Combined checks run $60. The WebCheck system handles electronic fingerprints and returns results in three to five business days.
Search the Ohio eSORN registry for sex offenders in the Dayton area. Tier 2 and Tier 3 offenders show up in the public database. You can set up email alerts for when an offender moves near you. The ODRC offender search covers state prisoners from Montgomery County but not the county jail.
The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services publishes crime data for Dayton and all Ohio jurisdictions. Reports cover violent crime, property crime, drug offenses, and domestic violence. This data helps you see the bigger picture of police activity in the Dayton area beyond any single report.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Dayton also have police records pages.