St. Cloud Police Department Launches Online Portal for Public Records Requests

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud Police Department is reminding residents that public records requests can now be submitted through an online portal.

According to the department, the new option is meant to streamline a process that has traditionally involved phone calls, emails, or in-person visits. The web-based system allows anyone to submit and track requests for department records. Users receive email notifications as their request moves through the review process.

The department is offering tips for getting the fastest response: include specific incident or case numbers when available, narrow requests to a defined date range, and describe the records being sought as precisely as possible. Residents looking for body-worn camera footage are asked to contact the front desk directly at 320-251-1200 rather than using the portal.

The department said it will provide explanations of any technical terminology, abbreviations, or acronyms that appear in released records if requesters ask.

Under Minnesota law, the department noted it is not obligated to answer questions submitted through the system or to create records that don’t already exist. It also isn’t required to reformat data into a layout it doesn’t already use. Copy costs may apply under Minnesota Statutes, Section 13.03.

Both federal and state data practices laws govern how the department collects, stores, and releases government data, and the department said it makes every effort to comply with those requirements.

Requests and any records provided through the system are retained according to the department’s adopted records retention schedule.

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