Phoenix takes steps to reduce backlog of 40,000 police public records requests

The Phoenix City Council recently voted to approve changes designed to reduce a backlog of almost 40,000 outstanding police public records requests.

The Police Public Records & Services Bureau will add 10 permanent non-sworn staff positions, six more permanent positions will be filled through internal transfers and 19 temporary staff will focus on eliminating the backlog within a year following training, according to a news release.

The bureau expects to receive almost 140,000 public records requests this year, which would be nearly 30% more than in 2024. The current wait times for traffic crash reports take as long as six weeks, and video footage requests that require review and redactions can take two years or more.

“The Police Department’s public records backlog is unacceptably long,” Mayor Kate Gallego said in the release. “New full-time employees to help fulfill these requests will go a long way to make sure we are better serving our residents, who expect and deserve timely access to important records.”

There will be a new fee structure implemented for getting public records, which will be focused on commercial users who are making profits off the records. The fees associated are projected to fully fund the costs of new personnel.

Here’s a breakdown of the new fee structure:

• Non-commercial document requests: Electronic copies will be free of charge. Printed copies will increase from $0.24 to $0.25 per page
• Commercial document requests: A $10 flat fee plus $0.25 per page
• Video requests: The first video with medium blur is free; supplemental requests requiring standard redactions will be charged $23 per 30 minutes reviewed, in line with state law
• Crime victims or their representatives: Receive one free copy of police records upon request
• Other fees: Charges for 911 recordings, photographs and other media remain unchanged

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