Find Monroe County Police Records

Monroe County police records are managed by the Sheriff's Office and Circuit Clerk in Waterloo. This page covers how to file records requests, look up court cases, and reach the right agencies.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office Records

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is at 225 East 3rd Street in Waterloo, IL 62298. Call (618) 939-8651 to reach the department. You can email sheriff@monroecountyil.gov for general inquiries. The sheriff handles law enforcement for the unincorporated parts of Monroe County. Duties include patrol, jail operations, court security, and civil process.

Police records from the sheriff include incident reports, arrest logs, crash reports, and booking data. To get a copy, you file a written FOIA request. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) requires all requests to be in writing. Phone calls alone are not enough. Be specific about what you need. Include names, dates, and case numbers when available.

Monroe County sits just south of St. Louis across the Mississippi River. Waterloo is the county seat. The county has about 35,000 residents. It is a growing area with a mix of rural land and suburban communities near the metro area. The sheriff's office is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas, while Waterloo and Columbia have their own city police departments.

The county FOIA officer is Sausha Alderman. She is based at 100 S. Main St. in Waterloo, IL 62298. Call (618) 939-8681 to reach her. If you are not sure which department has the records you need, start with the county FOIA officer. She can point you in the right direction or forward your request to the correct office.

How to File a FOIA Request in Monroe County

Put your request in writing. Give names and dates. A case number helps a lot. The FOIA officer has five business days to respond. Extensions up to ten days are possible for large requests. You will always get a written response. The response will provide the records, state the cost, or explain why the request was denied.

Copy fees follow state law. The first 50 pages of black and white are free. After that, $0.15 per page. Electronic copies by email are free. Color copies cost the actual price to produce. Ask for digital delivery when you can. It saves time and money. Most records can go out as PDF files by email.

If your request is denied, the agency must cite the specific exemption from the FOIA law (5 ILCS 140/). Open investigations, personal privacy, and officer safety are common grounds. You can appeal to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor. The appeal costs nothing. No lawyer required. The PAC reviews the case and issues a binding opinion.

Criminal history data has additional limits. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/), state-level searches only return conviction records. Arrests without convictions are excluded. However, you can still request arrest records from the Monroe County Sheriff directly under FOIA. The rules change depending on whether you go through the state or the local agency.

Monroe County Circuit Clerk Records

Lisa Fallon is the Monroe County Circuit Clerk. The office is at 100 S. Main St., Room 115, in Waterloo, IL 62298. Call (618) 939-8681 ext. 224. Email circuitclerk@monroecountyil.gov. The Monroe County Circuit Clerk website has information about court services and procedures.

The Circuit Clerk's website is shown below.

Visit the Circuit Clerk's website for details on court filings, case lookups, and services in Monroe County.

Court records on this site track the legal proceedings that follow a police report, from charges through final disposition.

Court records cover criminal cases, civil matters, traffic violations, and other filings. When someone is arrested in Monroe County, the State's Attorney decides whether to file charges. If charges go forward, the case enters the circuit court system. The clerk keeps every document from that point. Charges, plea agreements, trial results, and sentences are all part of the court record.

To get court records, visit the office in person. Bring a case number if you can. The staff can search by name too, but a case number is faster. Certified copies cost more than standard ones. Ask about fees when you visit or call. Police reports and court records are held by different offices. You may need both to see the full story on a case in Monroe County.

Illinois State Police for Monroe County

ISP Troop 8 covers Monroe County. If a state trooper handled the incident, request the report from ISP. Use the ISP FOIA page. Mail to 801 South 7th Street, Suite 1000-S, Springfield, IL 62703 or email ISP.FOIA.Officer@illinois.gov.

ISP crash reports cost $5 each. Pay by check or money order to Illinois State Police. Include crash date, location, and driver names. For criminal background searches, ISP runs the CHIRP system. Only conviction data shows under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/). The fee is $16 per name-based search.

The Illinois Sex Offender Registry is free. Search by name or address for registered offenders in Monroe County. No FOIA request needed. ISP keeps this database current.

Record Types Available in Monroe County

Several types of police records are held by agencies in Monroe County.

• Incident and offense reports from the sheriff
• Arrest records and booking logs
• Traffic crash reports
• Court case files from the Circuit Clerk
• Warrant information (limited access)
• Sex offender data from the state registry

County road crashes go to the sheriff. State highway crashes go through ISP Troop 8. Waterloo and Columbia police handle their own records. All criminal court cases for the county go through the Monroe County Circuit Clerk. Know which agency responded before you submit your request. Filing with the wrong office just causes delays.

Active warrants are not always public. The sheriff may be able to confirm if a warrant exists for a specific individual. A full list of outstanding warrants is usually not released. Call the sheriff's non-emergency line to ask.

Cities in Monroe County

Waterloo is the county seat. Columbia is the other main city. Other communities include Valmeyer, Hecker, and Maeystown. Each city with its own police department handles its own records. All court cases for the county go through the Monroe County Circuit Clerk in Waterloo.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Monroe County in southwestern Illinois.