North Hempstead Police Blotter Lookup
North Hempstead police blotter records are available through the Town of North Hempstead's FOIL process and through Nassau County Police for incidents handled by the county. Town Hall is at 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY 11030, and the town has a Transparency Portal that streamlines public records access for residents. To get a police report, incident log, or other police blotter data from North Hempstead, submit a written FOIL request to the Records Access Officer Michael J. Kelly or use the town's online portal.
North Hempstead Overview
Nassau County and North Hempstead Police Records
North Hempstead is one of the three towns in Nassau County. The town is in the northwestern part of Nassau, bordering Queens. Nassau County Police handles a large portion of patrol work in North Hempstead, particularly in unincorporated areas. Some incorporated villages within the town have their own departments. If your incident involved a specific village police department, contact that village directly for records.
The Town of North Hempstead operates a Transparency Portal that makes frequently requested records available online without a formal FOIL request. The portal covers open data and government records that the town proactively publishes. For records not on the portal, submit a FOIL request to the Town Clerk's Office at Town Hall. For court records from North Hempstead cases, use the Nassau County Clerk's Office or the state court records system at nycourts.gov.
North Hempstead Records Access Contact
The Town of North Hempstead designates a Records Access Officer to coordinate responses to FOIL requests. Michael J. Kelly serves in that role. All FOIL requests to the town go through the Town Attorney's office with records access coordinated by Kelly. The Town Clerk Wayne H. Wink Jr. also serves as a point of contact for public records. The Town Attorney is Leonard G. Kapsalis.
| Town Hall Address | 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY 11030 |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | (516) 869-7600 |
| Fax | (516) 869-7605 |
| Records Access Officer | Michael J. Kelly |
| Town Clerk | Wayne H. Wink, Jr. |
| Town Attorney | Leonard G. Kapsalis |
| Receiver of Taxes | Charles Berman |
| Transparency Portal | northhempsteadny.gov |
| FOIL Requests Page | northhempsteadny.gov/FOIL |
| Copy Fee | $0.25 per page |
| Appeal Deadline | 30 days from denial, response within 10 business days |
The town accepts FOIL requests through multiple channels. Online submission is encouraged. Requests can also be mailed or faxed to Town Hall. The full text of the New York State Freedom of Information Law is available through the Transparency Portal for reference. For records organized by department, the portal lists what each office maintains, which helps you direct your request to the right place.
Getting North Hempstead Police Blotter Records
Start with the Transparency Portal at northhempsteadny.gov to see if what you need is already published. The town proactively posts frequently requested documents there to reduce the volume of individual FOIL requests. If the record you need isn't there, file a FOIL request through the town's online submission process.
For police blotter entries and incident reports from Nassau County Police, submit a separate FOIL request to NCPD rather than the town. Nassau County Police and the Town of North Hempstead are different agencies with separate records. The county police handle incidents in unincorporated areas of the town, while village departments handle their own zones. Know which agency handled your incident before you file.
When filing a town FOIL request, describe the records you want in detail. Include dates, names, case or incident numbers, addresses, and the department you believe holds the records. The Records Access Officer must acknowledge receipt within five business days. A full response, or a detailed explanation with an estimated date, follows within a reasonable time period. The standard expectation under state law is ten business days from acknowledgment.
Records inspection is available by appointment during business hours. You can view records at Town Hall without paying copy fees. Copies cost $0.25 per page. For large requests, a deposit may be required upfront. The town provides detailed response letters that explain what was provided, what was withheld, and why.
FOIL Law and North Hempstead Records
New York's Freedom of Information Law, Public Officers Law §84-90, applies to all North Hempstead government records. Police blotter data, incident reports, and related records held by town agencies are subject to FOIL. The law creates a presumption of access. You don't need to explain why you want the records. The agency must give a reason if it refuses.
Under Public Officers Law §87, records must be made available unless a specific exemption applies. For police records, exemptions can include records that could interfere with a law enforcement investigation, records revealing confidential sources or techniques, and records that would endanger someone's safety. Personal privacy is also an exemption, though it's limited. An agency can redact exempt portions of a record and release the rest rather than withholding the whole document.
Appeals go to the Town Attorney if your request is denied. You have 30 days from the denial to file a written appeal. The appeal officer has ten business days to respond. If denied again, Article 78 proceedings in state court are the next step. The NY Committee on Open Government at opengovernment.ny.gov can review your situation and offer guidance at no cost.
What Records Are Available in North Hempstead
Police blotter and incident records held by Nassau County Police for North Hempstead incidents are accessible through NCPD's FOIL process. Town-level records available through the North Hempstead FOIL process include meeting minutes, resolutions, permits, zoning decisions, tax records, and general government files. Each department maintains its own records on different subjects.
Court records from criminal cases originating in North Hempstead go to the Nassau County court system and are accessible through the Nassau County Clerk or the state's online court records portal. For sealed cases, CPL 160.50 restricts access. Juvenile records have additional protections under Family Court Act provisions. Police disciplinary records became more accessible after the 2020 repeal of Civil Rights Law Section 50-a, which had previously shielded them from disclosure.
North Hempstead Records Portals
Screenshots from North Hempstead's FOIL and transparency resources:
Legal Resources for North Hempstead Records
Nassau County Legal Aid Society assists low-income residents with legal matters including FOIL appeals. The Nassau County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service for residents who need professional help. The NYCLU FOIL toolkit at nyclu.org is a free guide that walks through the request and appeal process step by step.
The NY Committee on Open Government at opengovernment.ny.gov publishes advisory opinions and will review specific denial situations. Their office is at One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Suite 650, Albany, NY 12231. Records are available for inspection by appointment Monday through Friday, 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm. For state police FOIL requests, use troopers.ny.gov/foil-requests. For state court records from North Hempstead cases, the portal is at nycourts.gov.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near North Hempstead where police blotter records are available: