FAQ

This section contains frequently asked questions from the public. Please review these questions before contacting us directly.

Q: How do I get a copy of a police report?

A: The release of offical police reports is governed by the Indiana Public Records Act, as well as department policy. Police report information shall not be released without establishing the "right to know" and "need to know".

Police reports are not released to arrested individuals and/or suspects. These individuals can request reports through their legal representatives through the discovery and/or subpoena process.

The following guidelines pertain to the release of police reports to victims or their legal representatives. Landlords and/or property owners must be listed in the report as victims in order to receive the report:

Property Crime Reports

The face sheet of reports involving crimes against property, the victims statement, and description of damage to the victim may be released. Any additional list and descriptions of stolen, damaged, or missing property may be released.

Person Crime Reports

The face sheet of reports involving crimes against persons, the victim's statement and description of any injuries sustained by the victim may be released. In cases of persons crimes which include i.e., Armed Robbery,Domestic Abuse, etc., the face sheet plus any lists and descriptions of stolen property or injuries sustaned by the victim may be released.

Traffic Accident Reports

Copies of the entire report may be released unless the report indicates "Hit and Run" or "Fatal". In those cases, the report will only be released after approval of the Traffic Section. The cost for an accident report is $10.00.

Lost or Found Property Reports

Copies of incident reports classified as "Lost Property" or "Found Property" may be released.

The following are normally not released without a court order:

-Reports not listed above
-Investigative supplements
-Photographs of arrested persons, witnesses or suspects
-Reports of booked property or evidence
-Crime scene photographs

Q: How can I contest a traffic citation?

A: A person who receives a traffic citation may contest it by going to the court by the date that he/she is given at the bottom of the citation and pleading not guilty in front of the traffic court judge. On a specified date, the person will then be able to return to the court and present his/her case before a judge and question the officer. If the judge rules in the persons favor, all charges will be dropped and the citation will not appear on your official driving record. Your failure to report to the initial court day can result in suspension of diving privlages and/or a warrant issued for your arrest.

Q: How can I report an abandoned vehicle?

A: To report abandoned vehicles (or other blights such as illegal dumping), call the Office of the Town Marshall at (765) 384-7222. You can also use the on-line contact us form and provide the vehicle location and other helpful information. Your request will be forwarded to the Ordinance Division for review.

Vehicles tagged as an abandoned vehicle have 72 hours to be removed or will be impounded by a law enforcment officer.

Q: What can I do about my noisy neighbors?

A: A noisy neighbor may create a disturbance by having a loud television, stereo, or radio, or an out-of-control party. These situations are handled by the police department and are best resolved by the officers assigned to your neighborhood. To request a police response to this kind of problem, please call our non-emergency dispatch number at (765) 384-7222.

Q: What can I do about barking dogs in my neighborhood?

How can I report animals running loose in my neighborhood?

A: Although pets can provide much companionship and love, they can also become a nuisance to an entire neighborhood if not cared for properly. All barking dog or other nuisance complaints are handled by the police department and/or the Humane Society. Dog complaints can be called into our non-emergency dispatch number at (765) 384-7222.

Q: How can I report narcotics activity in my neighborhood?

A: You may report narcotics activity in your neighborhood by contacting the police departments non-emergency disptach number at (765) 384-7222. You may also use the contact us form to send us information.

Q: What can I do about "identity theft"?

A: If you become the victim of identity theft, it is important to act immediately to stop the thief’s further use of your identity.

Immediately contact all your credit card issuers. Get replacement cards with new account numbers. Ask that the old accounts be processed as "account closed at consumer’s request." (This is better than "card lost or stolen," because when this statement is reported to credit bureaus, it can be interpreted as blaming you for the loss.)
Call the fraud units of the three credit reporting companies: TRW, Equifax, and Trans Union. Report the theft of your credit cards and/or numbers. Ask that your accounts be flagged. Also, add a victim's statement to your report such as, "My ID has been used to apply for credit fraudulently. Contact me at XXX-XXX-XXXX (your phone number) to verify all applications."
Notify your bank(s) of the theft. Cancel your checking and savings accounts and obtain new account numbers. Ask the bank to issue you a secret password that must be used in every transaction. Put stop payments on any outstanding checks that you are unsure of.
If you use the ATM card for banking services, get a new card, account number, and password. Do not use your old password. When creating a password, avoid such commonly used numbers as the last four digits of your Social Security number and your birth date.
If you have had checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently, report it to Telecheck and National Processing Company (NPC). These check guarantee companies will flag your file so that bogus checks will be turned down. Call Telecheck at 800-366-2425. Call NPC at 800-526-5380.

The Secret Service has jurisdiction over financial fraud cases. This federal government agency usually does not investigate individual cases unless the dollar amount is very high. To interest the Secret Service in your case, ask someone in the fraud department of your credit card companies and/or banks to notify the particular SS agent they work with.

Notify the Social Security Administration’s office of the Inspector General if your SSN has been used fraudulently. You may want to have your SSN changed if your number has become associated with bad checks and credit. CAUTION: This step should be reserved for only the most extreme situations. You must be sure to notify all credit grantors and credit reporting bureaus of your new SSN.

If you have a passport, notify the passport office to be on the look out for anyone ordering a new passport fraudulently.

Call your telephone, electrical, gas and water utilities. Alert them to the possibility that someone may attempt to open new service using your identification. Also contact your long distance company.

The nearest office of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service might be able to help you remove fraudulent claims from your credit report. Call 800-388-2227.

In dealing with the authorities and financial institutions, keep a log of all conversations, including dates and names. Send correspondence by certified mail. Keep copies of all letters and documents. Provide your police report number to expedite reporting the crime.
Consider seeking legal counsel, especially if you have difficulty clearing up your credit history, or your case is complex and involves a lot of money. An attorney can help you recover from the fraud and determine whether your rights under various credit banking, SSN, and other laws have been violated.

Pay attention to your own mental health. Victims of identity theft report that they often feel they are somehow to blame. They can also feel violated, even powerless, due in large part to the fact that few, if any, of the authorities who have been notified of the crime step forward to help the victim. Discuss your situation with a trusted friend or counselor. Seek help from a victims rights organization.

Credit Reporting Bureaus

Equifax	Copy of Report:	P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, Georgia 30374-0241
	Dispute Report:	P.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, Georgia 30374-0256
	Order Credit Report:	800-685-1111
	Opt Out of Marketing Lists:	800-219-1251
	Report Fraud:	800-525-6285

Trans Union	Copy of Report:	P.O. Box 7000 North Olmstead, OH 44070
	Dispute Report:	P.O. Box 403 Springfield, PA 19064
	Order Credit Report:	800-851-2674
	Opt Out of Marketing Lists:	800-241-2858
	Report Fraud:	800-680-7289

Experian	Copy of Report: Dispute Report:	Experian National Consumer Assistance Center P.O. Box 2104 Allen, TX 75013-2104
	Order Credit Report:	888-397-3742
	Opt Out of Marketing Lists:	800-353-0809

Remember, if you have been denied credit, you are entitled to a free credit report.

Social Security Administration
To order Earnings and Benefits Statement, or to report fraudulent use of SSN, call 800-772-1213.

To remove your name from mailing lists (Direct Marketing Association)
Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735
Telephone Preference Service, P.O. Box 9015, Farmingdale, NY 11735

To report fraudulent use of your checks
Call Telecheck 800-366-2425 or National Processing Company (NPC) 800-526-5380.

SWEETSER POLICE DEPARTMENT

Service, Pride, & Dedication