Colonie Police Blotter
The Town of Colonie Police Department maintains the police blotter and all incident records for this Albany County community. You can request police reports in person at the department, submit a FOIL request through the Town Attorney's Office, or use the town's online reporting system for certain types of incidents. Colonie is one of the most populous towns in the Capital Region, covering communities like Latham, Loudonville, Colonie village, and Menands. The department handles a large volume of calls each year, and most of those records are accessible to the public under New York's Freedom of Information Law.
Colonie Overview
Albany County Records
Colonie is in Albany County. Records from the Albany County Sheriff's Office, county court cases, and county-level data are maintained separately from Colonie town records. For county-level police blotter access and related records, visit the Albany County page.
Town of Colonie Police Department
The Town of Colonie Police Department serves all communities within the town. The main number for general inquiries is (518) 783-2744. The department has a Traffic Division, patrol units, and detective services. Records from all of these units contribute to the police blotter and incident log for Colonie.
Accident report copies cost $0.25 per page at the front desk. You can also get electronic accident reports through crashdocs.org, which is a convenient option if you cannot visit in person. For non-accident reports, visit the department directly or submit a written FOIL request. The department accepts online reporting for certain non-emergency incident types, including lost property, minor theft with no suspect, minor vandalism, larceny from a vehicle, stolen vehicle attempts, annoying phone calls, identity theft without a suspect, online fraud, and hit-and-run accidents with no suspect information.
| Department | Town of Colonie Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 312 Wolf Road, Latham, NY 12110 |
| Main Phone | (518) 783-2744 |
| Accident Reports | $0.25 per page at front desk; or online via crashdocs.org |
| Website | townofcolonie.gov/departments/police |
If you need a report tied to an ongoing criminal prosecution, staff may redirect you to the FOIL process through the Town Attorney's Office. Reports with named suspects also often require formal FOIL submission rather than simple front-desk pickup. Call ahead if you are not sure which process applies to your situation.
How to Search the Colonie Police Blotter
Finding police blotter records in Colonie can be done in a few different ways. Which route you take depends on what kind of record you need and your relationship to the incident.
For accident reports, the fastest option is crashdocs.org if the report is available electronically. You can search by name and date. For other incident reports, visit the police department front desk with your photo ID. Know the approximate date, location, and type of incident. Having a report number makes the process much quicker.
The Colonie PD accepts online reporting for a set list of minor incident types. If your situation fits one of those categories, you can file and access a report online without visiting the station. Check the department website for the full list of incidents that qualify for the online reporting system.
For records about someone else, or for any record tied to a criminal investigation, you need to submit a FOIL request. The Town Attorney's Office at Memorial Town Hall handles FOIL responses. Written requests can be mailed to: Memorial Town Hall, Office of the Town Attorney, P.O. Box 508, Newtonville, NY 12128. You can also fax requests to (518) 786-7324.
Susan Pellegrini serves as Paralegal in the Town Attorney's Office and handles FOIL request responses. Her direct contact is (518) 783-2704. The Town Clerk's Office, run by Julie Gansle, can also help direct records requests to the right department. The Town Clerk can be reached at (518) 783-2734. The Town Clerk Office is at Memorial Town Hall (First Floor), 534 Loudon Road, Latham, NY 12110, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with extended hours on Thursdays until 6:00 PM.
FOIL Requests in Colonie
New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), Article 6 of the Public Officers Law, gives the public the right to access government records. In Colonie, FOIL requests for police records go through the Town Attorney's Office rather than directly to the police department.
Submit your written FOIL request by mail to the Town Attorney's Office at P.O. Box 508, Newtonville, NY 12128, or by fax to (518) 786-7324. You can also submit online if the town has an active portal. Describe the records clearly. Include dates, location, incident type, and any report numbers. The Town must acknowledge receipt within five business days and provide records, a denial, or an estimated completion date.
The standard copy fee is $0.25 per page for copies up to 9 by 14 inches. Electronic records are often provided at no charge. When a request is denied, the Town provides written reasons citing specific exemptions. Under the Public Officers Law, denial reasons can include: records cannot be reasonably located, no record exists, the record is not maintained by this agency, or the record falls under a specific legal exemption.
Disciplinary records for police personnel are retained for 3 years after a final decision, and personnel case files are kept for 6 years after termination under New York State guidelines. If you are denied access, you have 30 days to appeal. The appeal goes back to the Town Attorney, who has 10 business days to respond. For further guidance, visit opengovernment.ny.gov.
The Village of Colonie handles its own records separately from the Town. FOIL requests for Village records go to Jamie Blot, Village Clerk and FOIL Officer, at Village Hall, 2 Thunder Road, Colonie, NY 12205. You can also submit by fax to (518) 464-0389 or email to jblot@colonievillage.org. The Village charges $0.25 per page plus postage for mailed copies, and payment must be received before records are released.
Personnel records searches that would require going through each officer file individually may be denied as requiring "unreasonable effort" under FOIL guidelines. For broader statistical requests, frame your request around aggregate data rather than individual file review.
Types of Police Blotter Records in Colonie
The Town of Colonie Police Department keeps a range of records related to police activity. Here is a breakdown of what is typically available and how to get it.
Accident reports (MV-104) are filed for all crashes involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. Involved parties must also file their own MV-104 with the DMV within 10 days of the incident under Vehicle and Traffic Law §605. Copies are available at the front desk for $0.25 per page or electronically through crashdocs.org.
Incident reports cover all calls for service. Parties involved can usually get copies directly. Third parties need a FOIL request. Reports tied to ongoing investigations may be withheld in part or full until the case closes.
Arrest records are public once charges are filed. They include the nature of the charge, booking date, and basic defendant information. Juvenile records are restricted.
Death investigation records may be available in some cases. The department handles unattended deaths, sudden or suspicious deaths, suicides, and homicides. Some of these records are withheld during active investigations but become available after a case resolves.
Injury reports are required for incidents involving drug overdoses, serious injuries, dog bites, on-duty officer injuries, and gunshot wounds under Penal Law §265.25 and §265.26. These can be requested through FOIL.
Traffic statistics are compiled by the Traffic Division and reported quarterly to the Field Services Bureau Chief. Summary versions of this data may be available through FOIL or on the town's website.
Additional Resources
The Albany County Sheriff's Office handles enforcement in unincorporated parts of Albany County and maintains its own records division. Their records are separate from Colonie PD files. Contact the Sheriff at (518) 487-5400.
The New York State Police cover state highways in the area. For incidents on state roads near Colonie, Troop G may hold those records. Submit State Police FOIL requests through GovQA at troopers.ny.gov/foil-requests or mail to: NY State Police, Attn: Central Record Bureau, 1220 Washington Avenue, Bldg. 22, Albany, NY 12226-2252. The fee is $15.00 per incident report.
The Albany County Clerk's Office maintains court records for cases that go to county or Supreme Court. Contact them at (518) 487-5100. The New York State Committee on Open Government at opengovernment.ny.gov provides free guidance on all aspects of the FOIL process statewide.
For statewide court records, visit nycourts.gov for case lookup tools. The NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services at criminaljustice.ny.gov publishes annual crime data for Albany County that includes Colonie's contribution to county-level statistics.
Nearby Cities
Looking for police blotter records in nearby Albany County communities? These pages cover adjacent areas.