Occasionally, a crime victim may be asked to provide some evidence that a police report was filed (usually by an insurance company to establish that a loss occurred). Fairfax City police reports are maintained by the Police Records Section.

Due to privacy laws, police investigation reports will not be released without a court order or unless otherwise authorized by law. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act generally protects reports from public disclosure because they often contain personal, sensitive, or confidential information about the event or the persons involved.

The following people or entities who need written verification of a filed police report may request a Verification of Police Report from the city police department:

• Complainants or victims listed on the police report
• Authorized representatives of an insurance carrier that represents a victim listed on the police report; or
• Attorneys who have been retained to represent a complainant, victim or other party listed on the police report

The Verification of Police Report will contain the following information:

• Case number*
• Reporting Officer
• Date of report
• Name of complainant/owner
• Location of event
• Property reported, if applicable
• Value if listed in the report
• A brief synopsis of the event

* Providing the case number will help expedite the report request

You must present a valid ID with photograph to obtain a Verification of Police Report, such as a driver's license, DMV ID card, military ID card, passport, or U.S. government-issued identification.

Cost: $10 each (free in cases of domestic violence)

For automobile accident reports, please see Crash Reports.