Find Amarillo Police Records
Amarillo police records are handled by the Amarillo Police Department, the main law enforcement agency in the Texas Panhandle's largest city. The department runs a Real Time Crime Center, a Cold Case Unit, and a records services operation that processes public requests. Amarillo sits across two counties, Potter and Randall, so court records may go through either county system. With about 200,000 residents, Amarillo is the regional hub for a wide area of northwest Texas. This page explains how to search for and get copies of police records from the Amarillo area through local and state channels.
Amarillo Overview
Where to Get Amarillo Police Records
The Amarillo Police Department is the first place to go for records from incidents inside city limits. Their records services operation handles copies of incident reports, arrest data, and crash reports. The department also has a Real Time Crime Center that tracks crime data across the city and helps officers respond to developing situations.
Amarillo straddles Potter County and Randall County. The downtown area and most of the original city sit in Potter County. The southern and eastern parts extend into Randall County. Court records end up in whichever county the incident happened in. Potter County has its courthouse in Amarillo. Randall County's courthouse is in Canyon, about 15 miles south.
| Office | Amarillo Police Department - Records Services |
|---|---|
| Phone | (806) 378-3038 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | amarillopolice.com |
The Cold Case Unit works on unsolved homicides and other serious crimes. Records tied to cold cases may have different availability than standard reports since investigations remain technically open.
Searching Amarillo Police Records
State databases cover Amarillo cases alongside all other Texas agencies. The Texas DPS Crime Records Division offers a name-based criminal history search for $3 per name plus transaction fees. The statewide Computerized Criminal History system tracks convictions and deferred adjudications from 1975 to now. It holds over 15 million records.
Crash reports from Amarillo are filed with TxDOT CRIS. You can buy copies online. Standard copies cost $6. Certified copies cost $8. There is a 60-day hold period before a report becomes public. You can search by name, driver license, VIN, or crash ID.
For state inmates and parolees, the TDCJ Offender Search is free and available any time of day. The TDCJ Inmate Search Portal also works for quick name lookups. Both show current facility, offense information, and projected release dates.
How to Request Amarillo Police Records
The Texas Public Information Act applies to the Amarillo Police Department. You can request records in writing without giving a reason. Be clear about what records you need. Include dates, names, or report numbers if you have them. The department must respond within 10 business days.
Some things stay confidential. Active investigations can be withheld under Government Code Section 552.108. Juvenile records are off limits. If the department wants to deny your request, they must ask the Texas Attorney General to rule on it. The AG has 45 working days after that.
Copy costs follow state rules. Standard pages cost $0.10 each. Legal size is $0.15. Labor is $15 per hour for big requests, plus 20% overhead. If the total estimate goes past $40, you get a cost breakdown before the department begins. The first 50 pages may be free for records stored in one spot.
Note: Mail requests work well if you are not near Amarillo, since the city is isolated from other major Texas metro areas.
Amarillo Police Records Tools
The Texas DPS Crime Records Division is a key resource for searching criminal history data linked to Amarillo and other Panhandle agencies. The screenshot below shows the DPS Crime Records portal.
From this portal, you can create an account and purchase search credits. Each name search pulls from the statewide conviction database. Results show the offense, date, county, and disposition for each record found.
Crime victims in the Amarillo area can use the Texas VINE system to track offender custody status. VINE covers all 254 Texas counties. It sends free alerts by phone, email, or text when an offender is released, transferred, or escapes. Registration is anonymous.
Types of Police Records in Amarillo
Amarillo PD produces several types of police records. Incident reports are the most common. They cover the basic facts: date, time, location, names of parties, and a narrative from the officer who responded. These reports are what most people request when they call the Records Division.
Arrest records list the charges, the arresting officer, and when custody started. Booking happens at the Potter County or Randall County jail depending on the case. Crash reports go to TxDOT in the CR-3 format as required by Texas Transportation Code Chapter 550. Officers must file them within 10 days of the crash investigation.
- Incident and offense reports
- Arrest and booking records
- Crash reports (CR-3 via TxDOT)
- Supplemental case reports
- Cold case files (limited availability)
The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement licenses all officers in the state. You can check any Amarillo officer's credentials through the free TCOLE online lookup, which shows certification level and disciplinary history.
Legal Resources in Amarillo
Free legal guides are available at TexasLawHelp.org, covering public records requests and criminal justice topics. The State Bar of Texas referral service is (800) 252-9690. The Texas Courts website posts forms and court information for both Potter and Randall county courts. Local legal aid in the Panhandle region may help with records disputes if you meet income guidelines.
Potter County Police Records
Most of Amarillo falls in Potter County. The Potter County Sheriff runs the jail and handles law enforcement in unincorporated areas. The Randall County Sheriff covers the southern portion of the city. Court records split between the two counties based on incident location.
Nearby Texas Cities
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