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.
Appleton, Wisconsin, in Outagamie County, has about 75,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from Appleton depends on where the incident happened. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the Wisconsin 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: Appleton public records, Outagamie County police reports, Appleton arrest records, Appleton warrants, Appleton inmate search, Appleton criminal records, Wisconsin arrest records and Wisconsin inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from Appleton
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 Appleton that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as Appleton Police Department); outside it, the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office.
The Wrightstown Police Department and the New London Police Department are each listed by the FBI across several counties including Outagamie County, so their arrests are not broken out for Outagamie County here.
Reports from the Appleton Police
For Appleton, SearchSystems opened and checked the Appleton police department's page at appletonwi.gov/police/contact_us.php (page title: Contact Us), phone 920-832-5500, Monday-Friday 8am-4pm, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 25, 2026.
The agency that reports for Appleton had 142 violent and 721 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 2,611 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office
The Outagamie County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 23 violent and 164 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 1,048 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its custody page, at outagamie.gov/Our-County/Sheriffs-Office/Corrections-Division/Recen... (page title: Recent Bookings (Media Report) | Outagamie County, Wisconsin), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
What the Wisconsin Public Records Law Requires
Under the Wisconsin Public Records Law the agency must answer a request as soon as practicable and without delay; the law sets no number of days, and it may charge the actual cost of copying and locating, with no charge for the first $50 of locating. 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 outagamie.gov/Our-County/Sheriffs-Office/Open-Records-Request (page title: Open Records Request | Outagamie County, Wisconsin).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in Appleton?
From the agency that took it. The Appleton police department's page is at appletonwi.gov/police/contact_us.php, phone 920-832-5500; the sheriff's reports come from the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in Appleton have to answer?
Under the Wisconsin Public Records Law, as soon as practicable and without delay; the law sets no number of days. It may charge the actual cost of copying and locating, with no charge for the first $50 of locating.
How do I get a report from the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit. Under the Wisconsin Public Records Law the answer is due as soon as practicable and without delay; the law sets no number of days.
Is this the official Appleton 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.