Access Cattaraugus County Police Records

Cattaraugus County police records are kept by the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office at 301 Court Street in Little Valley, the Olean Police Department, and other local agencies throughout this western New York county. The sheriff provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas while cities like Olean maintain their own police forces. The County Clerk at 303 Court Street maintains criminal court records. FOIL requests are the main way to access police records from any of these agencies. This page covers how to find and request police records in Cattaraugus County.

Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office Police Records

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office is at 301 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755. The main phone number is 716-938-9191. The sheriff provides patrol, investigations, and civil process throughout the county. All law enforcement records generated by the sheriff, including incident reports, arrest records, and accident reports, are maintained at this location.

An online FOIL request form is available on the county website. You can use it to submit a detailed request for specific records and choose how you want to receive the response. Written requests can also be mailed to the Records Access Officer at the address above. Under New York's Freedom of Information Law, Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90, the sheriff must respond within five business days. They can provide the records, deny with written reasons, or send a note saying they need more time.

Fees follow the state standard of $0.25 per page for copies. For requests that require more than two hours of staff time, the office can charge the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the work. The Jail Division at the same address keeps inmate records and booking information. For jail inquiries, contact the sheriff's office directly. The Civil Division handles service of process, and those records are also available through FOIL.

Cattaraugus County Clerk's Office

The Cattaraugus County Clerk's Office is at 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755. The phone number is 716-938-9111. The clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme Court and County Court. Court records are maintained here and available for public inspection unless a judge has sealed them. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Land records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens are also here. Public access terminals are available for record searches in person. FOIL requests for clerk records should go in writing to the Records Access Officer. The office also handles pistol permits, passport applications, and business records. Copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more, as set by state law.

For pending criminal cases, check WebCrims. For civil matters, try eCourts WebCivil Supreme. Older cases may not appear online and require an in-person visit to the clerk's office.

Olean Police Department Records

The Olean Police Department serves the City of Olean, the largest city in Cattaraugus County. The department is at 101 East State Street, Olean, NY 14760. The non-emergency phone number is 716-376-5677. Olean PD maintains its own police records, separate from the county sheriff.

FOIL requests should go to the City Clerk's Office or directly to the Police Department Records Division. Put your request in writing and include dates, locations, names, and any case numbers you have. The department responds within five business days under state law. Fees follow state guidelines at $0.25 per page. Payment can be made by cash, check, or money order. Appeals of denied requests go to the City of Olean Common Council within 30 days.

Olean PD works with the Cattaraugus County Sheriff and the State Police on cases that cross city lines. For joint investigations, you may need to file separate FOIL requests with each agency involved.

Statewide Police Records Resources

The New York State Police cover areas of Cattaraugus County without local police. Their Central Record Bureau in Albany processes all records requests. The fee is $15.00 per incident report under Public Officers Law Section 66-a. You can use the GovQA online form or mail a written request to 1220 Washington Avenue, Building 22, Albany, NY 12226-2252.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) maintains official state criminal history records. These are not public and need fingerprint submission for access. The Sex Offender Registry lists Level 2 and 3 offenders online. For Level 1 offender details, contact the Cattaraugus County Sheriff. The DOCCS lookup covers state prison inmates and parolees.

Motor vehicle accident reports can be ordered through the DMV Crash Report Sales Portal. Reports appear 14 to 30 days after electronic filing. The cost is $7.00 search fee plus $15.00 per report. The Committee on Open Government provides guidance on FOIL disputes if your request is denied.

How the FOIL Process Works in Cattaraugus County

When you file a FOIL request with any Cattaraugus County agency, the process follows the same basic steps set by state law. The agency must respond within five business days of receiving your written request. The response can be one of three things: they grant access to the records, they deny access and explain why in writing, or they send you a letter saying they got the request and need more time. If they need more time, they must give you an estimate of when the records will be ready.

Records that are typically available include completed incident reports, accident reports, arrest booking information for cases that have been arraigned, and other finalized police documents. Records that are commonly withheld include active investigation files, confidential informant information, non-routine investigative techniques, and anything that could endanger someone's life or safety. Under Public Officers Law Section 87(2), the agency must still release the non-exempt portions of a record. They do this by redacting the protected parts while leaving the rest visible.

Appeals of denied requests go to the Cattaraugus County Attorney's Office. You have 30 days from the denial to file your appeal. Include a copy of the original request and the denial letter. The appeals officer responds within ten business days. If the appeal is also denied, you can go to court within four months.

Nearby Counties

Cattaraugus County is in the southwestern part of New York State. Incidents near county borders may have been handled by a neighboring jurisdiction.