If you have been injured or involved in a serious incident in Austin, TX, you may need to contact the law enforcement agency that responded. Getting a copy of the incident report or other public records can be important after a car accident, assault, dog bite, pedestrian accident, or injury on someone else’s property.
Several law enforcement agencies serve Austin and the surrounding areas, each with its own jurisdiction. Below, you will find a directory with addresses, phone numbers, websites, and information on how to request records from these agencies.
If someone is in immediate danger, a crime is happening, or you need emergency help, call 911 right away. For non-emergencies, contact the right agency using the information below.
Austin Police Department
The Austin Police Department is the main law enforcement agency for the city of Austin. APD responds to car accidents, crimes, assaults, disturbances, dangerous situations, and other incidents where police help is needed.
Austin Police Department Headquarters
715 E 8th St, Austin, TX 78701
Austin 3-1-1: Dial 311
Outside Austin: (512) 974-2000
Visit Website
Austin Police Department East Substation
812 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 974-5900
Austin Police Department South Substation
404 Ralph Ablanedo Dr, Austin, TX 78748
(512) 974-82
Not all APD locations accept reports or offer services to the public. Before you visit, call ahead to check their hours and make sure staff can help with your request.
Travis County Sheriff’s Office
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office serves areas of Travis County that are outside city limits. The Sheriff’s Office responds to calls for help, investigates crimes, keeps certain county records, provides services to victims, and runs county jails.
Travis County Sheriff’s Office Central Command
5555 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
General information: (512) 854-9770
Non-emergency crime reporting: (512) 974-0845, option 3
Central Records: (512) 854-9749
Victim Services: (512) 854-9709
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Travis County Sheriff’s Office West Command
3800 Hudson Bend Rd, Austin, TX 78732
(512) 854-9728
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Campus Police Serving the University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin Police Department handles incidents that happen on university property. UTPD officers are Texas peace officers who can investigate crimes, enforce traffic laws, make arrests, and write police reports.
UTPD responds to car crashes, pedestrian accidents, bicycle or scooter collisions, assaults, unsafe activity, and other incidents that cause injuries on university property.
UTPD Main Building
2201 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin, TX 78712
Non-emergency assistance and police reports: (512) 471-4441, extension 9
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Texas Department of Public Safety
The Texas Department of Public Safety includes the Texas Highway Patrol. State troopers enforce traffic and criminal laws on highways across Texas. They may investigate crashes or other incidents on state and rural roads in the Austin area, especially outside city limits.
Texas DPS Austin Headquarters
5805 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78752
General information: (512) 424-2000
Austin regional office: (512) 424-7391
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Which Agency Has the Record of My Incident?
The agency that responded to your incident usually keeps the police records. The paperwork you receive from an officer may list the agency’s name, a case number, the officer’s ID, and instructions on how to request a copy of the report.
Depending on the location and circumstances, the responding agency may be:
- Austin Police Department: Incidents within Austin city limits
- Travis County Sheriff’s Office: Incidents in unincorporated Travis County
- University of Texas Police Department: Incidents on property owned or controlled by the university
- Texas Department of Public Safety: Certain highway incidents and matters involving state jurisdiction
Not every injury leads to a police report. For example, if you are hurt at a store, restaurant, hotel, apartment complex, or workplace, the business or property owner may create their own incident report. In these cases, you would usually request the report directly from the business or property owner, not the police.
How to Obtain an Austin Police or Incident Report
Purchase an APD Crash Report
The City of Austin provides an online service to purchase eligible crash reports from APD-investigated accidents.
Search APD Incident Reports
APD’s public database allows users to search for available incident reports by case number, address, ZIP code, area command, district, or other criteria. The database is updated daily and generally contains information from the preceding 18 months.
File a Non-Emergency APD Report
You can report certain non-emergency incidents online if they are not happening now and there is no immediate danger. Always call 911 if there is an emergency or an active threat.
Submit a City of Austin Public Information Request
If you need records that are not available through the usual APD search tools, you may need to submit a public information request. Depending on what is available and allowed by law, you could receive reports, recordings, photos, or other records from the agency.
Submit a City of Austin Public Information Request
Request Travis County Sheriff’s Office Records
You can request incident reports and other public records from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. The process you need to follow may depend on the type of information you are seeking.
Request a TCSO Incident Report
Submit a TCSO Open Records Request
Contact UTPD About Police Records
If your incident was handled by the University of Texas Police Department (UTPD), contact UTPD. Be ready to provide the case number, date, location, and names of anyone involved if you have them.
Obtain a Texas Crash Report
Texas Peace Officers’ Crash Reports are maintained through the Texas Department of Transportation. Reporting agencies generally have up to 10 days to submit crash reports to TxDOT.
Texas Crash Reports and Records
Why Can an Incident Report Matter in a Personal Injury Case?
Police and incident records may help document the circumstances surrounding an injury. Depending on the event, available records could identify:
- When and where the incident occurred
- The people involved
- Witnesses and their contact information
- Statements provided at the scene
- Property or vehicle information
- Visible injuries or hazardous conditions
- Citations or arrests
- Photographs, video, or body-camera footage
- Calls for service or 911 communications
- Observations made by responding officers
These records do not always prove who is legally at fault. However, they can help preserve important details and point to evidence that may need more investigation.
After an injury, save any case numbers, contact cards, medical records, photos, witness information, receipts, and any letters or emails you get. If you were hurt at a business or someone else’s property, ask if they made an internal incident report and write down the name of the person you told about the incident.
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website. Call 911 for emergencies.
Contact our Personal Injury Attorneys for Legal Help After an Injury in Austin
If you have been injured because of unsafe property conditions, a slip and fall, a pedestrian or bicycle accident, a car crash, or another act of negligence, McMinn Law Firm is here to help.
An Austin personal injury lawyer from our firm can investigate your accident, gather important records, preserve evidence, and explain your options for seeking compensation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. You will not pay any attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Austin, TX
McMinn Law Firm – Austin, TX Office
502 W 14th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-0222
