Access Lima Police Records
Lima police records are managed by the Lima Police Department Records Bureau in Allen County, Ohio. The Records Bureau accepts email requests at LPDrecords@limaohio.gov and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. You can search for incident reports, crash reports, and arrest data through the department or Ohio's state databases. Lima police records are public under Ohio law, and the Records Bureau handles requests by email, phone, and in person during its limited office hours.
Lima Police Records Overview
Lima Police Records and Allen County
Lima is the county seat of Allen County. The Lima Police Department keeps all records for cases in the city. The Allen County Sheriff's Office handles cases outside city limits.
The Lima Police Department has a dedicated Records Bureau that processes all public records requests. Call 419-221-5153 or email LPDrecords@limaohio.gov. The bureau keeps incident reports, accident files, arrest data, and policy documents. Note the limited hours: the Records Bureau is open only Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Email is the best option if you cannot visit during those hours. Check the Lima Police Department Records Bureau page for the latest contact details.
Because Lima is the county seat, the Allen County courthouse is in town. Felony cases from Lima police go to the Allen County Court of Common Pleas. The Allen County Clerk of Courts keeps those files. Misdemeanor and traffic cases stay in the Lima Municipal Court. Both types of court records are public and can be searched separately from police files.
Getting Lima Police Reports
Email is the easiest way to request Lima police records. Send your request to LPDrecords@limaohio.gov. Include the date of the incident, location, and names involved. A case number helps if you have one. The Records Bureau clerk will pull the file and let you know the cost and timeline.
You can also call 419-221-5153 during bureau hours. Walk-in requests are accepted Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Keep in mind the limited schedule. Under ORC 149.43, you do not need to give your name or explain why you want the records. The department must provide copies within a reasonable time. Fees must match the actual cost of making copies.
For crash reports from Lima, the Ohio Crash Retrieval System is a free state tool that holds accident reports from agencies across Ohio. Wait about seven days after the crash before searching. BuyCrash.com is another option if the state system does not have the report yet.
Note: Lima police records from active investigations may be withheld under Ohio's confidential law enforcement investigatory records exception.
Lima Police Video Records
Body camera and dash camera footage from Lima police has its own fee rules. Ohio House Bill 315 lets the department charge up to $75 per hour for reviewing and redacting video. The cap is $750 per request. You get a written cost estimate before any work begins on your request.
Crime victims can often get footage from their own cases at no cost. Video requests take longer than paper records because of the review and redaction process required by law. The Ohio Sunshine Laws Manual has full details on what agencies must release and what they can hold back when it comes to video footage from police departments.
Ohio Resources for Lima Police Records
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation runs the state criminal history database. A BCI background check costs $22 for state, $35 for FBI, and $60 for both. Results come in three to five business days through the WebCheck system. The Ohio eSORN registry tracks sex offenders near Lima.
The Ohio DRC offender search shows state inmates and parolees. The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services publishes crime data for Lima and other cities. The Ohio Supreme Court case management system holds court records from 1985 onward that you can search by name or case number. This is useful for tracking felony cases that started with Lima police arrests.
Lima Court Records
The Lima Municipal Court handles misdemeanor cases and traffic violations from the city. Court files show charges, pleas, fines, and sentencing orders. These are separate from police records but they relate to the same arrests and incidents. You can look at court files at the courthouse for free.
Felony cases from Lima go to the Allen County Court of Common Pleas. As the county seat, Lima has the courthouse in town. Grand jury indictments, trial records, and sentencing files are all public. The Allen County Clerk of Courts keeps those files. The Ohio Supreme Court case management system has Allen County court records going back to 1985 that you can search by name or case number.
Nearby Cities
These nearby Ohio cities have police records you can search.