Amherst Police Blotter Records Search

Amherst police blotter records come from the Amherst Police Department, one of the largest town police departments in Western New York. The Town Clerk's Office handles FOIL requests for town records, while the Erie County Clerk and Sheriff handle county-level materials. Amherst Town Hall is in Williamsville on Main Street, and it serves as the hub for most public records requests related to town police activity.

Erie County Police Records

Amherst is in Erie County. Erie County maintains a separate set of records through the County Clerk and the Erie County Sheriff's Office. For county court records, county-level arrest records, and county FOIL processes, visit the Erie County page.

View Erie County Police Records

Town of Amherst Police Department

The Amherst Police Department serves the Town of Amherst in Erie County. The department is one of the larger town departments in New York State and handles all policing within the town's boundaries. The Town Clerk's Office is the designated FOIL officer and records custodian for the town, coordinating requests between departments.

The Town Clerk is the primary point of contact for all FOIL requests related to town government records, including police department records. Submit requests in writing to the Town Clerk at 5583 Main Street, Williamsville, NY 14221, or contact the office at (716) 631-7021.

How to Get Amherst Police Blotter Records

Police blotter records from the Town of Amherst Police Department are available through the town's FOIL process. The Town Clerk coordinates requests and routes them to the appropriate department. The department that holds the records reviews and responds.

To submit a FOIL request to the Town of Amherst, write a request describing the records you want as specifically as possible. Include dates, names, incident numbers if known, and any other identifying details. Send it to the Town Clerk at 5583 Main Street, Williamsville, NY 14221, or email fspoth@amherst.ny.us.

Under New York's FOIL, an important rule applies: agencies need not create new records in response to requests. They only have to provide records that already exist. Section 89(3) of the Public Officers Law confirms this. If information is in electronic format and contains some non-public data, the agency must redact that data and still give you the rest rather than denying the whole request.

For Erie County-level records, each county department has its own designated FOIL officer. The Erie County Clerk's Office makes most records available through a Public Search Site that doesn't require a formal FOIL request at all. For records that aren't on the public search site, submit a written FOIL request by email, fax, or mail to the custodial department.

Erie County accepts records access requests by email using an electronic form, consistent with Public Officers Law § 89(3)(b). Independent county offices including the Board of Elections, County Executive, Comptroller, District Attorney, Legislature, and Sheriff each administer their own FOIL processes.

FOIL in Amherst and Erie County

New York's Freedom of Information Law applies to both the Town of Amherst and Erie County. The law is in Article 6 of the Public Officers Law (Sections 84-90). Everyone has the right to access government records that aren't specifically exempted.

When filing a FOIL request, you must provide your name, address, and phone number. Describe the records in enough detail that agency staff can locate them. Say whether you want to inspect in person, get copies by mail, or receive electronic records. Specify your preferred format.

Agencies must respond within five business days of receiving a properly written request. They can give you the records, deny the request with written reasons, or acknowledge receipt and give you an estimated completion date. If denied, you have 30 days to file a written appeal. The appeal officer has 10 business days to respond.

Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page for paper copies up to 9 by 14 inches. Electronic records are free unless compiling them requires more than two hours of staff time. For complex requests that require more preparation, agencies may charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee with the necessary skills, plus costs for storage media and any outside professional services.

For FOIL guidance, visit the New York State Committee on Open Government at opengovernment.ny.gov.

Amherst Police Blotter Record Types

Different types of public safety records are held by different offices in Amherst. Here is a breakdown.

Incident reports and police blotter records from the Amherst Police Department: request through the Town Clerk's FOIL process at (716) 631-7021. Include all identifying details to speed up the search.

Court records for cases heard in Amherst Town Court: contact the Town Justices Office at (716) 689-4201. Town court records are distinct from county and state court records.

Erie County court records go through the Erie County Clerk's Office. Land records, court filings, and other official documents are available through the Public Search Site. Many records don't require a formal FOIL request if they are already posted online.

Record checks and fingerprinting for Erie County residents may be available through local law enforcement. NYS DCJS processes fingerprint cards for professional licensing and other official purposes at criminaljustice.ny.gov.

Vital records including birth, death, marriage, and divorce records are available from the Erie County Clerk's Office. Proof of identity and applicable fees are required.

Statewide criminal history checks go through the NYS Office of Court Administration at $95 per name. For sex offender lookups, visit criminaljustice.ny.gov or call (800) 262-3257.

Amherst and Erie County Records Resources

Amherst Police Records Resources

Nearby Cities

Other Erie County communities with police blotter records pages.

• Cheektowaga
• Tonawanda
• Buffalo