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 1, 2026.
Hickory, North Carolina, in Catawba County, has about 45,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from Hickory depends on where the incident happened. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the North Carolina 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: Hickory public records, Catawba County police reports, Hickory arrest records, Hickory warrants, Hickory inmate search, Hickory criminal records, North Carolina arrest records and North Carolina inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from Hickory
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 Hickory that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as Hickory Police Department); outside it, the Catawba County Sheriff's Office.
Reports from the Hickory Police
For Hickory, SearchSystems opened and checked the Hickory police department's page at hickorync.gov/police-faq (page title: Police FAQ | City of Hickory), phone 828-328-5551, 100 Governement Drive Newton, NC 28658, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 25, 2026.
The agency that reports for Hickory had 183 violent and 1,272 property crimes reported for 2024 and reported 1,687 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the Catawba County Sheriff's Office
The Catawba County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 105 violent and 497 property crimes reported for 2024 and reported 2,097 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its custody page, at injail.catawbacountync.gov/whosinjail (page title: Who's In Jail), 170 Newton District Court Conover Police Department View Alford, Alonzo 6/21/2026 441 2ND ST PL SW HICKORY, NC 28602, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
What the North Carolina Public Records Act Requires
Under the North Carolina Public Records Act the agency must answer a request as promptly as possible; the statute sets no number of days, and it may charge the actual cost of copying. The request goes to the agency that holds the report, in writing, and does not have to say why the report is wanted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in Hickory?
From the agency that took it. The Hickory police department's page is at hickorync.gov/police-faq, phone 828-328-5551; the sheriff's reports come from the Catawba County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in Hickory have to answer?
Under the North Carolina Public Records Act, as promptly as possible; the statute sets no number of days. It may charge the actual cost of copying.
How do I get a report from the Catawba County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit. Under the North Carolina Public Records Act the answer is due as promptly as possible; the statute sets no number of days.
Is this the official Hickory 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.