Support Services

The Support Services staff is responsible for a myriad of tasks including the processing of all police reports and related citations, preparing these documents for the prosecutors and courts, Support Services Lead Ronaye Tylor and Office Assistant Faith Millerand responding to requests for disclosure from other agencies and the public; entry of arrest warrants and court orders into local, state and national crime data-bases; conducting background checks for processing concealed pistol licenses and handgun transfers; managing property and evidence; compiling crime statistics; compiling and disseminating weekly activity reports to local media; providing monthly department activity summaries to City Council; answering the office phones and providing assistance to those who visit the front lobby, and assisting the administration and staff with other duties as needed.

Four years ago we lost two staff members through attrition and lay-off, leaving only two of us to cope with all these duties and more. In February 2013 the city hired us a part-time, temporary office assistant Faith Miller, who had been volunteering here for a number of months. Having Faith join the team, if only on a part-time basis, has made a real positive difference in the quality of service we're able to give to the public and the Department.

To learn more about the services we offer, please click on the appropriate links below.Property and Evidence Manager Kim Martin

Criminal History Concealed Pistol and Other Firearm Licenses Court Information
Emergency Vouchers Fingerprinting Lost and Found
Protection Orders Report Requests Statistics







Criminal History

In the State of Washington, conviction criminal history (that is, records of arrests that have gone through the courts and the subject convicted of the crime) is public record and available to the public online through the Washington State Patrol. The Ferndale Police Department can only release conviction criminal history on arrests that have occurred within the city limits of Ferndale.

Individuals may request their own criminal history records via fingerprint submission from the FBI. Please go to the FBI website to learn their procedures.
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Court Information

The Ferndale Municipal Court and Probation offices are located in the Ferndale Police Department's building, 2220 Main Street.  The court phone number is 360-384-2827 ext. 5756 and the Probation office is 360-384-5421.
The courtroom is located at the City Council Chambers, Second and Vista. Court is held on Friday mornings, jury trials are usually scheduled for Thursdays.
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Emergency Vouchers

Thanks to the Salvation Army Emergency Assistance Program, we are able to provide short term financial assistance to Ferndale residents and travelers who have experienced an emergency and are in need of help. Types of assistance include food, gas, bus fare, prescription/medical assistance for seniors, and in extreme emergencies, shelter for families. Please call or stop in for further information.
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Fingerprinting

We do fingerprinting by appointment only on Wednesdays and Fridays between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. The fee for this service is $10 per card. Fingerprinting for Concealed Pistol Licenses is done on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m.  Please call 360-384-3390 ext. 5745 or 5746 to make an appointment.
Please note, if you are late for your appointment, you may have to wait while others are printed first.
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Lost and Found

If you have found an item within the city limits, please turn it in at the front desk at the police department. You will be issued a receipt for the item and, if it's unclaimed after 60 days, you may be able to claim it provided certain conditions have been met.

If you are missing an item, you may call us or stop by the office. We will check our database of found property to see if it has been turned in. If not, we'll take a report so your information will be on file if the property is recovered.

We are often asked whether we auction unclaimed property. We auction most unclaimed property online at Propertyroom.com. Bicycles are donated to a local charity.
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Protection Orders

Domestic Violence Protection Orders, Restraining Orders, No Contact Orders and Anti-Harassment orders are issued by the courts, not the police. Petitioning the court for one of these orders can be confusing at best, and often overwhelming for someone who is already in a crisis situation. We strongly advise contacting one of the agencies listed on our DV Resources page to discuss your situation, devise a safety plan, and to obtain an advocate's help with the protection order if one is deemed necessary. An advocate will be able to help you through every step of the process and will even accompany you to court.

If you choose not to use an advocate's assistance, the court forms can be found at the Washington Courts website and are available in a number of languages. They may also be picked up from Superior or District Court in the Whatcom County Courthouse, 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham.

For assistance with the forms, visit Washington Law Help and click on the Domestic Violence & Anti-Harassment link. Court personnel are not allowed to help with the forms.
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Report Requests

Traffic accident reports are only available to those directly involved; drivers, owners of vehicles/property, injured parties, their legal representatives, attorneys and insurers. You can pick up your copy of an accident report at the front counter at the police department during regular business hours, but please phone first (360-384-3390 ext. 5745 or 5746) to see if the report is ready for release.

Other police reports may or may not be releasable, depending upon a number of factors determined by State law. A written request is required and per RCW 42.17.320, we have up to five business days in which to respond to the request. A staff member must read the report carefully to ensure that it is releasable, and that private or otherwise protected information is deleted prior to disclosure. There is a fifteen cent per page fee for this service. Feel free to call us at 360-384-3390 ext. 5745 or 5746 if you have any questions about the process.

You may download a request form here,  or pick one up at the front desk of the police department.

Please note that if you were arrested and want a copy of your arrest report to be used in your defense in court, you must make this request to the appropriate court.
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Statistics

Please call the office at 360-384-3390 extension 5745 or 5746 if you are in need of statistics. We are working on getting current stats together to post online.
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