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 26, 2026.
East Alton, Illinois, in Madison County, has about 5,600 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from East Alton depends on where the incident happened. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the Illinois Freedom of Information 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 Alton public records, Madison County police reports, East Alton arrest records, East Alton warrants, East Alton inmate search, East Alton criminal records, Illinois arrest records and Illinois inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from East Alton
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 East Alton that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as East Alton Police Department); outside it, the Madison County Sheriff's Office.
The FBI's list also carries Norfolk Southern Railway in Madison County and Terminal Railroad Association (other agency) and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (campus police), each with a records office of its own.
The Pierron Police Department and the Fairmont City Police Department are each listed by the FBI across several counties including Madison County, so their arrests are not broken out for Madison County here.
Reports from the East Alton Police
For East Alton, SearchSystems opened and checked the East Alton police department's page at villageofeastaltonil.gov/east-alton-police-department (page title: East Alton Police Department | Village of East Alton), phone (618) 259-6212, 211 N. Shamrock Street, East Alton, IL 62024, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 26, 2026.
The agency that reports for East Alton had 19 violent and 74 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 222 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the Madison County Sheriff's Office
The Madison County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 77 violent and 662 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 1,121 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its jail page, at sheriffrandytucker.com/madison-county-detention-center (page title: Madison County Detention Center | Madison County Sheriff's Department), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
What the Illinois Freedom of Information Act Requires
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act sets the rules: an answer within 5 business days, with one 5-day extension, at a charge of copying only after the first 50 pages, from the agency that holds the report.
Any other county record goes through the county records request page SearchSystems verified, at madisoncountyil.gov/departments/circuit_clerk/coppy_request.php (page title: Madison County Illinois Circuit Clerk Copy Requests).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in East Alton?
From the agency that took it. The East Alton police department's page is at villageofeastaltonil.gov, phone (618) 259-6212; the sheriff's reports come from the Madison County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in East Alton have to answer?
Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, within 5 business days, with one 5-day extension. It may charge copying only after the first 50 pages.
How do I get a report from the Madison County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act the answer is due within 5 business days, with one 5-day extension.
Is this the official East Alton 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.