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 24, 2026 and September 26, 2026.
Adel, Iowa, in Dallas County, has about 6,800 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from Adel depends on where the incident happened. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the Iowa Open Records Law (Chapter 22) 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: Adel public records, Dallas County police reports, Adel arrest records, Adel warrants, Adel inmate search, Adel criminal records, Iowa arrest records and Iowa inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from Adel
A crime, incident or collision report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, and that agency releases it, not the court, the jail or the prosecutor.
Inside Adel that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as Adel Police Department); outside it, the Dallas County Sheriff's Office.
The Urbandale Police Department, the Clive Police Department and the West Des Moines Police Department are each listed by the FBI across several counties including Dallas County, so their arrests are not broken out for Dallas County here.
Reports from the Adel Police
For Adel, SearchSystems opened and checked the Adel police department's page at adeliowa.gov/departments/public_safety.php (page title: Public Safety), phone (515) 993-6723, 102 S. 10th St. Adel, IA 50003, Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 26, 2026.
The agency that reports for Adel had 9 violent and 65 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 98 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the Dallas County Sheriff's Office
The Dallas County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 17 violent and 41 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 280 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its custody page, at inmates.dallascountyiowa.gov/NewWorld.InmateInquiry/dallas (page title: Inmate Search), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 24, 2026.
What the Iowa Open Records Law (Chapter 22) Requires
Under the Iowa Open Records Law (Chapter 22) the agency must answer a request without delay; the law sets no fixed number of days, and a delay past 20 days must be justified, and it may charge the actual cost of copying and retrieval. The request goes to the agency that holds the report, in writing, and does not have to say why the report is wanted.
Any other county record goes through the county records request page SearchSystems verified, at dallascountyiowa.gov/263/Open-Records-Request (page title: Open Records Request | Dallas County, IA).
A defendant who has been charged gets the report through the case: the County Attorney, 515-993-5060, handles discovery for pending cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in Adel?
From the agency that took it. The Adel police department's page is at adeliowa.gov/departments/public_safety.php, phone (515) 993-6723; the sheriff's reports come from the Dallas County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in Adel have to answer?
Under the Iowa Open Records Law (Chapter 22), without delay; the law sets no fixed number of days, and a delay past 20 days must be justified. It may charge the actual cost of copying and retrieval.
How do I get a report from the Dallas County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit. Under the Iowa Open Records Law (Chapter 22) the answer is due without delay; the law sets no fixed number of days, and a delay past 20 days must be justified.
Is this the official Adel 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.