Request a Record

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A RECORD, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW, PRINT, SIGN, AND: BRING the completed request TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT or email it to the records custodians at j.puckett@ci.evansville.wi.gov and q.bennett@ci.evansville.wi.gov or fax it to 608-882-2295.

Records Fees  Request Form

Release of Information:

The following explains how the Evansville Police Department releases information. This includes not only to whom it is released, but what information will be released.

Pursuant to Wis. Stat. §19.356(2)(a), you must notify us if the requested record(s) meet any of the following criteria:

1. A record containing information relating to an employee that is created or kept by the authority and that is the result of an investigation into a disciplinary matter involving the employee or possible employment-related violation by the employee of a statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or policy of the employee's employer.

2. A record obtained by the authority through a subpoena or search warrant.

3. A record prepared by an employer other than an authority, if that record contains information relating to an employee of that employer, unless the employee authorizes the authority to provide access to that information.

Records Request for Video/Audio Files:

Any video/audio files are subject to the same redaction reqirements as any other police record. Therefore, requests for video/audio files may take longer to receive depending on the length/size of the file, number of files. etc.

Notice to Open Records Requestors:

Portions of a record may be redacted pursuant to one or more of the following:

• The Federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act {DPPA}.

• The record contains juvenile information.

• The record contains personal identifiable information.

• Pursuant Wisconsin Statutes §19.35(1)(am); §19.36(8)(b); §19.62(5).

Any record denial {redaction} is subject to review in an action for mandamus under Wis. Stat. §19.37(1), or by application to the local district attorney or Attorney General. Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4)(b).

Records Requests for Traffic Accident/Crash Reports:

As of May 1st, 2019 the Evansville Police Department will no longer process requests for accident reports (MV4000) or Crash Reports (DT4000). The Department of Transportation is the records custodian for these reports.

Our office will process currently outstanding requests for accident/crash reports and any additional requests that are received through May 1st, 2019.

Please note that our office remains the records custodian for information that may accompany an accident/crash report, including narrative/supplementary reports, photographs, and video recordings. Please continue to contact our office if you wish to request this information. To request any of these records, please contact the Evansville Police Department at (608) 882-2292.

Requestors of the MV4000 or DT4000 are advised to contact the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Crash/Accident Records Unit at:

Wisconsin Department of Transportation Crash Records Unit:
4822 Madison Yards Way, 9th Floor South
Madison, WI 53705
Phone: (608) 266-8753
Fax: (608) 261-8201
Website: https://app.wi.gov/crashreports

Requestors may also request a copy of the completed DT4000 form on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website. All DT4000 accident reports completed by Evansville Police Department officers will be available from the Department of Transportation Crash Records Unit when they are complete, generally seven to ten days after incident.

Although completed DT4000 crash/accident forms will no longer be available, the Evansville Police Department will continue to maintain, and provide upon request, completed, non-reportable crash/accident forms.

Self Report a Crash:

If you would like to complete a Crash Self-Report form CLICK HERE.

Records Requests and the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA):

The Evansville Police Department has modified the procedure regarding the review and release of open records requests based upon advice from legal counsel.  In compliance with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Senne v. Village of Palatine, 695 F.3d 597 (7th Cir. 2012)(cert. denied 2013), and a U.S. Supreme Court decision, Maracich v. Spears, (No 12-25; 2013), many law enforcement agencies have had to alter their procedures for complying with the Wisconsin Public Records law.

These federal cases as well as Article VI, Section2 of the U. S. Constitution, Wis. Stats. 19.36 (1) and 19.35 (1) (a) recognize that the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (“DPPA”), 18 U.S.C. § 2721 et. seq., supersedes state law in determining what records or parts of records can be released to the public.

In order to comply with these decisions interpreting the Federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act, we must move remove/redact from our reports “personal information that identifies an individual “ including the following data elements before copies of such reports may be provided to the public without written consent of the person named therein:

1. Date of Birth

2. Address except the 5 digit zip code

3. Phone numbers

4. Photographs

5. Social Security Numbers

6. Medical or Disability Information

7. Driver’s license and DOT ID card numbers and physical descriptors

8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)

We wish for you to be aware that your copy of a requested police report may contain significant deletions/redactions in order to comply with Federal law and avoid both civil and criminal penalties. Such penalties also apply to any person who disseminates legally protected personal data items without a permissible use as stated in the Federal DPPA. 

A list of such permissible uses is attached and part of our records request form available on this page. Permissible uses are listed in 18 U.S.C. 2721(b).  If you qualify for one of the permissible uses, you may complete the form by checking the applicable permissible use box, then sign the form certifying that fact. You will then receive the entire, unredacted copy of the requested document (unless another legal requirement exists requiring redaction).  Falsifying this form may result in Federal and/or State civil and/or criminal penalties.

The Evansville Police Department will not release personal information under the DPPA unless it falls under a permissible use.  The Evansville Police Department will continue to provide records, as required and allowed, in accordance with Wisconsin State Statutes that are not in conflict with DPPA.  Any records that are denied are subject to review by mandamus under § 19.37(1), Wis. Stats., or upon application to the Attorney General or a district attorney.