File a Report

Procedure

To file a police report, all you need to do is contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 515-286-3333, extension 5 and explain what assistance is needed or requested.

Dispatchers do not take reports over the phone. If you need to make a police report and you live in the city of Ankeny, a dispatcher will gather your contact information and dispatch an officer to address your concerns. Officers may contact you in person, at a location of your choosing within the City of Ankeny, or by phone. You may be asked to come to the Police Department to file your report. Depending upon the type of call, the reporting process should be fairly short. The officer will ask several questions about the incident and take notes in order to complete a formal report.

Who do I make a report to?

When deciding which law enforcement agency to make a report, location of where the crime occurred is most important. The Ankeny Police Department can only take reports on incidents that occurred within Ankeny. If the incident occurred in another city you would need to report the incident to that city's police department to investigate.

If you do not live in Ankeny but the incident occurred in Ankeny, you will have to contact a police officer at the Ankeny Police Department. Bring all information you have regarding your incident. For accidents, please bring the vehicle involved, proof of insurance, driver's license and any information about the other driver. Our officers can not leave the city to take a report.

How do I get a copy of my report?

The police officer will then document the information gathered from their investigation in a formal report . You may request to obtain a copy of your police report from the Ankeny Police Records Department.  There are rules and restrictions on when and how a report can be released to a member of the public.  The Records Department will be able to clarify the status of a police report release. Any initial questions concerning your report should be directed to the officer that took the initial report.

What happens with my case after I am done talking with the officer?

Cases are assigned to investigators based on severity of the crime and solvability factors. Should an investigator be assigned to your case, you will be notified at a later date. This can take from one to several days depending on the investigator's caseload. From that point on, the investigator would be responsible for answering your questions. In instances where the victim does not wish to pursue charges, a report can be made for documentation purposes only. To obtain copies of police reports, contact the Records Department Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (except holidays and an emergency or significant public safety event that interrupts staff's ability to comply with a request.)

Surrounding Agencies