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.
Ottawa, Illinois, in LaSalle County, has about 19,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from Ottawa 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: Ottawa public records, LaSalle County police reports, Ottawa arrest records, Ottawa warrants, Ottawa inmate search, Ottawa property records, Illinois arrest records and Illinois inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from Ottawa
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 Ottawa that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as Ottawa Police Department); outside it, the La Salle County Sheriff's Office.
The FBI's list also carries Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team (other agency), with a records office of its own.
The Somonauk Police Department is listed by the FBI across two counties including LaSalle County, so its arrests are not broken out for LaSalle County here.
Reports from the Ottawa Police
For Ottawa, SearchSystems opened and checked the Ottawa police department's page at cityofottawa.org/FormCenter/Police-Department-9 (page title: Form Center, Police Department), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 25, 2026.
The agency that reports for Ottawa had 46 violent and 232 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 618 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the La Salle County Sheriff's Office
The La Salle County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 41 violent and 135 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 240 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its custody page, at lasalleso.com/inmateSearch (page title: LaSalle Parish Sheriff's Office (LA)), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
What the Illinois Freedom of Information Act Requires
Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act the agency must answer a request within 5 business days, with one 5-day extension, and it may charge copying only after the first 50 pages. 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 lasallecounty.com/i-want-to/request/foiapublic-records (page title: FOIA/Public Records).
A defendant who has been charged gets the report through the case: the State's Attorney, 815-434-8340, handles discovery for pending cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in Ottawa?
From the agency that took it. The Ottawa police department's page is at cityofottawa.org; the sheriff's reports come from the La Salle County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in Ottawa 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 La Salle 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 Ottawa 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.