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.
Burien, Washington, in King County, has about 52,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from Burien depends on where the incident happened. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) 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: Burien public records, King County police reports, Burien arrest records, Burien warrants, Burien inmate search, Burien criminal records, Washington arrest records and Washington inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from Burien
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 Burien that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as Burien Police Department); outside it, the King County Sheriff's Office.
The FBI's list also carries the University of Washington (campus police) and the Port of Seattle (other agency), each with a records office of its own.
The Milton Police Department is listed by the FBI across two counties including King County, so its arrests are not broken out for King County here.
Reports from the Burien Police
For Burien, SearchSystems opened and checked the Burien police department's page at burienwa.gov/residents/public_safety/police (page title: Police | City of Burien), phone (206) 296-3311, 516 Third Avenue, Room W150, Seattle, WA 98104, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 25, 2026.
The agency that reports for Burien had 178 violent and 1,293 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 1,610 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the King County Sheriff's Office
The King County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 396 violent and 2,342 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 2,579 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit, reached through the office at (206) 296-1234. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its jail page, at data.kingcounty.gov/Jail/Names-dates-charges/yri2-fef8 (page title: Names, dates, charges | King County | Open Data), phone (206) 296-1234, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
What the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) Requires
The Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) sets the rules: an answer within 5 business days, at a charge of for copies at 15 cents a page, and set fees for electronic records, from the agency that holds the report.
Any other county record goes through the county records request page SearchSystems verified, at kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/about-king-county/busines... (page title: Submit a Public Records Request | King County, Washington).
A defendant who has been charged gets the report through the case: the Prosecuting Attorney, 206-477-1200, handles discovery for pending cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in Burien?
From the agency that took it. The Burien police department's page is at burienwa.gov/residents/public_safety/police, phone (206) 296-3311; the sheriff's reports come from the King County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in Burien have to answer?
Under the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56), within 5 business days. It may charge for copies at 15 cents a page, and set fees for electronic records.
How do I get a report from the King County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit, reached through the office at (206) 296-1234. Under the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) the answer is due within 5 business days.
Is this the official Burien 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.