Tompkins County Police Blotter
Tompkins County police blotter records are kept by the Sheriff's Office, the City of Ithaca Police Department, and the Cornell University Police. Each agency maintains its own records and processes FOIL requests separately. Tompkins County is home to about 105,000 people and includes Ithaca, Cornell University, and Ithaca College.
Tompkins County Overview
Tompkins County Sheriff and Ithaca Police
The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office at 779 Warren Road in Ithaca is led by Sheriff Derek Osborne. The office handles county-wide law enforcement, jail and corrections, civil process, emergency communications, records, pistol permits, court security, and marine patrol on Cayuga Lake. Hours are 24/7 for patrol and emergency services. Records staff can be reached at (607) 257-5312 during business hours.
The City of Ithaca Police Department is a separate agency from the County Sheriff. The Ithaca PD at 120 W. Clinton Street, Ithaca, NY 14850, serves the city limits. Phone: (607) 272-9973. Non-emergency: (607) 272-3245. Records Division hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. FOIL requests for Ithaca PD records are handled separately from the Sheriff's Office. Online report requests are available through the city's website.
Cornell University Police also operates within the county but primarily on university property. For incidents on campus, contact Cornell University Public Safety. For FOIL requests involving Cornell PD records, contact the university directly.
| Sheriff's Office | 779 Warren Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Phone | (607) 257-5312 |
| Ithaca PD | 120 W. Clinton Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 |
| Ithaca PD Phone | (607) 272-9973 |
| County Clerk | 320 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 |
| Clerk Phone | (607) 274-5431 |
How to Search Tompkins County Police Blotter Records
Tompkins County has a mix of law enforcement agencies. The Sheriff covers unincorporated areas. Ithaca PD covers the city. Cornell PD covers the campus. New York State Police Troop C has a barracks in Ithaca and covers state routes. Knowing which agency handled your incident is the first step.
The Tompkins County FOIL request portal at tompkinscountyny.gov/foil accepts online submissions for county records. The portal lists the Records Access Officer, required fields, fee schedule, and appeal procedures. You can also submit requests by email or mail. The county acknowledges requests within five business days and responds within 20 business days.
The Tompkins County Clerk at 320 N. Tioga Street in Ithaca holds court records for criminal and civil cases. Phone: (607) 274-5431. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Court records go back six or more years. Microfilm archives cover older files. Copy fees are $0.25 per page.
For State Police records, use the online portal at troopers.ny.gov/foil-requests or mail to the Central Record Bureau in Albany. The fee is $15.00 per incident report for involved parties. The NYS Unified Court System's WebCrims database at nycourts.gov shows criminal case information by name for cases in Tompkins County courts.
FOIL Requests in Tompkins County
New York's Freedom of Information Law at Public Officers Law Section 87 applies to all Tompkins County agencies. The county FOIL portal at tompkinscountyny.gov lists fee schedules, exemption categories, and appeal procedures. The standard fee is 25 cents per page. Electronic records delivered by email have no additional charge. There is no fee to inspect records in person.
FOIL requests for Ithaca Police Department records are handled through the City Clerk, who serves as the City's Records Access Officer. Appeals for city records go to the City Clerk or a designated appeals officer. For county Sheriff records, appeals go to the County Attorney. Both follow the same 30-day appeal window and 10-day response requirement.
The county's FOIL page outlines five-day acknowledgment and 20-day determination timelines under Public Officers Law Section 89. Commercial use provisions and public interest fee waivers apply. The county accepts both email and mail requests. Online submission is preferred for faster processing.
The NYS Committee on Open Government at opengovernment.ny.gov provides free FOIL guidance, template letters, and advisory opinions. Their office is at One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Suite 650, Albany. Records are also available for inspection by appointment Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at their Albany office.
Tompkins County Police Blotter Records
Police blotter records in Tompkins County come from multiple agencies. The Sheriff covers the county outside Ithaca. The Ithaca PD covers the city. Cornell PD covers campus. Each blotter shows incidents by date, time, type, location, and names. Arrest records include charge, jurisdiction, and booking information. Full incident reports may have redactions for exempt material.
The Tompkins County Jail at 779 Warren Road maintains inmate management records. Booking, intake, and release information are available through the Sheriff. Visitation schedules and inmate communication policies are posted at the jail. The civil process office at the same address handles evictions, seizures, and court order service.
Crime statistics for Tompkins County are available from DCJS at criminaljustice.ny.gov. Annual data covers all police agencies in the county. Drug offenses, DWI arrests, domestic violence, and clearance rates are tracked. Historical data goes back to the 1990s.
Official Tompkins County Resources
Legal Resources in Tompkins County
The Tompkins County Sheriff at (607) 257-5312 handles county law enforcement records. Ithaca PD at (607) 272-9973 handles city records. The County Clerk at (607) 274-5431 covers court files. The County Attorney processes FOIL appeals for county agencies.
Tompkins County has legal aid resources through Cornell Law School's clinical programs and Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York. The NYS Committee on Open Government at opengovernment.ny.gov provides free advisory opinions on FOIL questions. The NYS Bar Association can refer you to a private attorney if needed. For criminal history record searches, NYS OCA charges $95.00 per name at 25 Beaver Street in New York. DCJS reviews at $14.25 for residents at 80 South Swan Street in Albany.
Cities in Tompkins County
Tompkins County's main city is Ithaca. No cities in this county meet the qualifying population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Police blotter records for Ithaca go through the Ithaca Police Department. County records go through the Sheriff's Office.
Nearby Counties
Tompkins County is in the Finger Lakes region. Check the address of your incident to confirm which county's records you need.