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 October 9, 2026.
Washington County, Maryland, has about 157,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from Washington County depends on where the incident happened: the Washington County Sheriff's Office for the unincorporated county, the agency that reports for the city inside a city. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the Maryland Public Information Act requires of it.
This guide covers which agency, the sheriff's reports, the cities' reports, how many reports, what the law requires and common questions.
Related guides: Washington County public records, Washington County arrest records, Washington County warrants, Washington County inmate search, Washington County criminal records, Maryland arrest records and Maryland inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from Washington County
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.
In Washington County that is the Washington County Sheriff's Office for the unincorporated county and for any city that contracts with it for police service, and the agency that reports for a city where the city has one of its own.
The FBI's list also places the Washington County State Police in Washington County; a report taken on a state highway by it comes from that agency's own records office.
The FBI's list also carries Hagerstown Community College (campus police), with a records office of its own.
Reports from the Washington County Sheriff's Office
The Washington County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 186 violent and 643 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 2,618 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its custody page, at news.washeriff.net/divisions/bookings (page title: Bookings | WCSO), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on October 4, 2026.
Reports from the City Agencies in Washington County
The four cities the FBI lists in Washington County with a reporting agency of their own:
- Hagerstown: 271 violent and 1,080 property crimes reported for 2025; 1,632 arrests reported for 2025.
- Boonsboro: 4 violent and 23 property crimes reported for 2025; 18 arrests reported for 2025.
- Smithsburg: 1 violent and 12 property crimes reported for 2025; 4 arrests reported for 2025.
- Hancock: 6 violent and 11 property crimes reported for 2025; 9 arrests reported for 2025.
A city on that list is reported separately whether the officers are the city's own or the sheriff's under contract; the FBI's list does not say which.
How Many Reports: Washington County in 2025
The five agencies in Washington County with all twelve months of 2025 on file reported 468 violent and 1,769 property crimes to the FBI that year, each one a report taken by the agency that holds it.
Together, the five agencies in Washington County with all twelve months of 2025 on file reported 4,281 arrests to the FBI that year, and each arrest is a report of its own.
What the Maryland Public Information Act Requires
Under the Maryland Public Information Act the agency must answer a request within 30 days, with a denial due within 10 working days, and it may charge staff time after the first two hours, plus copying. 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 washco-md.net/emergency-services/public-record (page title: Request a Public Record | Washington County).
A defendant who has been charged gets the report through the case: the State's Attorney, 240-313-2000, handles discovery for pending cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in Washington County?
From the agency whose officer took it: the Washington County Sheriff's Office for its own arrests, or the agency that reports for the city where it happened. Under the Maryland Public Information Act the answer is due within 30 days, with a denial due within 10 working days.
How long does an agency in Washington County have to answer?
Under the Maryland Public Information Act, within 30 days, with a denial due within 10 working days. It may charge staff time after the first two hours, plus copying.
Who has a crash report from a state highway in Washington County?
The state agency whose officer took it; the FBI lists the Washington County State Police in Washington County.
How do I get a report from the Washington County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit. Under the Maryland Public Information Act the answer is due within 30 days, with a denial due within 10 working days.
Is this the official Washington County website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.