Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. The arrest and crime counts are the ones each agency reported to the FBI, as the FBI held them on October 8, 2026. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026.
East Palo Alto, California, in San Mateo County, has about 29,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from East Palo Alto depends on where the incident happened. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the California Public Records Act requires of it.
This guide covers which agency, the city's records page, the sheriff's reports, what the law requires and common questions.
Related guides: East Palo Alto public records, San Mateo County police reports, East Palo Alto arrest records, East Palo Alto warrants, East Palo Alto criminal records, East Palo Alto court records, California arrest records and California inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from East Palo Alto
The report of an incident is released by the agency that took it; the court and the jail hold their own records of the same event, but not the report.
Inside East Palo Alto that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as East Palo Alto Police Department); outside it, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
The FBI's list also places the Highway Patrol's Redwood City Area Office in San Mateo County; a report taken on a state highway by it comes from that agency's own records office.
The FBI's list also carries San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Mateo County and Union Pacific Railroad in San Mateo County (other agency), each with a records office of its own.
Reports from the East Palo Alto Police
For East Palo Alto, SearchSystems opened and checked the East Palo Alto police records page at ci.east-palo-alto.ca.us/police/page/how-obtain-police-reports-records (page title: How to Obtain Police Reports & Records | City of East Palo Alto), phone 650-853-3160, 141 Demeter Street East Palo Alto, CA 94303, Monday - Friday 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 25, 2026.
The agency that reports for East Palo Alto had 161 violent and 469 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 543 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 232 violent and 1,376 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 3,068 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit.
What the California Public Records Act Requires
The California Public Records Act sets the rules: an answer within 10 days, with up to 14 more days in unusual circumstances, at a charge of the direct cost of copying only, not staff time, from the agency that holds the report.
Any other county record goes through the county records request page SearchSystems verified, at smcgov.org/ceo/public-records-act-request-form (page title: Public Records Act Request Form | County of San Mateo, CA).
A defendant who has been charged gets the report through the case: the District Attorney, (650) 363-4636, handles discovery for pending cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in East Palo Alto?
From the agency that took it. The East Palo Alto police records page is at ci.east-palo-alto.ca.us, phone 650-853-3160; the sheriff's reports come from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in East Palo Alto have to answer?
Under the California Public Records Act, within 10 days, with up to 14 more days in unusual circumstances. It may charge the direct cost of copying only, not staff time.
Who has a crash report from a state highway in East Palo Alto?
The state agency whose officer took it; the FBI lists the Highway Patrol's Redwood City Area Office in San Mateo County.
How do I get a report from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit. Under the California Public Records Act the answer is due within 10 days, with up to 14 more days in unusual circumstances.
Is this the official East Palo Alto website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official city, county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.