Please note that it may take up to five business days or longer for routine inquiries (e.g. questions about a cold report that appears on our press log, general inquiries on crime trends, statistics requests, etc.).
A response will be more timely when there is a danger to public safety, when an arrest has been made, or on cases where we have proactively distributed a news release. The Watch Commanders will evaluate each incoming request and do their best to respond in a timely manner, while balancing their other job responsibilities.
For major crime scenes, critical incidents, or breaking news events, please complete this form as well so that we can easily retrieve your contact information and manage your request. The police administration will designate someone to act as a public information officer in these specific events so that we can continue our longstanding practice of providing accurate public safety information in a timely way on major cases. The person serving in this capacity, depending on the incident, will be available for on-camera or radio interviews.
If you are a member of the media who wants to make a request for statistics or other records pursuant to the California Public Records Act, please do not use the form on this page. Instead, please visit the City of Palo Alto's Public Records Request page and complete the form there. This facilitates tracking of your request and ensures the appropriate staff will work to fulfill it as expeditiously as possible.