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 October 9, 2026.
Independence, Oregon, in Polk County, has about 10,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from Independence depends on where the incident happened. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the Oregon Public Records Law 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: Independence public records, Polk County police reports, Independence arrest records, Independence warrants, Independence inmate search, Independence criminal records, Oregon arrest records and Oregon inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from Independence
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 Independence that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as Independence Police Department); outside it, the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
The FBI's list also places the Polk County State Police in Polk County; a report taken on a state highway by it comes from that agency's own records office.
The FBI's list also carries the Polk County Liquor Commission (state agency), with a records office of its own.
The Salem Police Department is listed by the FBI across two counties including Polk County, so its arrests are not broken out for Polk County here.
Reports from the Independence Police
For Independence, SearchSystems opened and checked the Independence police records page at ci.independence.or.us/independence-police-release-monthly-report-13 (page title: Independence Police Release Monthly Report | City of Independence), a site that blocks automated checks (HTTP 403), so open it in a browser.
The agency that reports for Independence had 18 violent and 133 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 222 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the Polk County Sheriff's Office
The Polk County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 40 violent and 187 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 326 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit, reached through the office at 503-623-9251. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its jail page, at polkcountyor.gov/210/Sheriffs-Office (page title: Sheriff's Office | Polk County, OR), phone 503-623-9251, 850 Main St. Dallas, OR 97338, Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on October 9, 2026.
What the Oregon Public Records Law Requires
Under the Oregon Public Records Law the agency must answer a request within 15 business days where practicable, after acknowledging the request within 5, and it may charge the actual cost of making the record available. 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 Independence?
From the agency that took it. The Independence police records page is at ci.independence.or.us; the sheriff's reports come from the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in Independence have to answer?
Under the Oregon Public Records Law, within 15 business days where practicable, after acknowledging the request within 5. It may charge the actual cost of making the record available.
Who has a crash report from a state highway in Independence?
The state agency whose officer took it; the FBI lists the Polk County State Police in Polk County.
How do I get a report from the Polk County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit, reached through the office at 503-623-9251. Under the Oregon Public Records Law the answer is due within 15 business days where practicable, after acknowledging the request within 5.
Is this the official Independence 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.