Upper Darby Police Blotter Guide
The Upper Darby police blotter covers incidents handled by the Upper Darby Township Police Department in Delaware County, just west of Philadelphia. Upper Darby is a densely populated township with about 85,000 residents and one of the busiest municipal police departments in suburban Pennsylvania. The department maintains public records accessible through formal requests and its public-facing website. This page explains how to find Upper Darby police blotter records, request incident reports, and use Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law to access township police records.
Upper Darby Quick Facts
Upper Darby Township Police Department
The Upper Darby Township Police Department's official website at udpd.org provides comprehensive department information, FAQ, and Calls for Service statistics for this Delaware County township.
Residents can find records request procedures and department contact information for Upper Darby police blotter records through the official police website.
The Upper Darby Township Police Department at udpd.org is the primary resource for department information, public records procedures, and calls for service data. The department is headquartered at 7236 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA 19082. The main department number is 610-734-7686. For records specifically, the records office line is 610-734-7678. Both lines are staffed during regular business hours and can answer questions about Upper Darby police blotter records and report availability.
Upper Darby is a township, not a city, but its population density and call volume make it function much like a major urban police department. The department patrols a compact area with diverse neighborhoods and high residential density. The police blotter for Upper Darby reflects that density, with a wide range of incident types logged daily. The department's website publishes Calls for Service data, giving residents a real-time sense of activity levels across the township without needing to file a formal records request.
Note: Upper Darby is a township and operates under township government rather than city government. Its police department functions independently but follows the same Pennsylvania public records laws as municipal police departments.
Requesting Upper Darby Police Reports
Incident and accident reports from the Upper Darby Township Police Department each cost $15. This fee applies to standard copies of police blotter entries and traffic accident reports. Payment details and accepted forms of payment should be confirmed with the records office before your visit. The department FAQ at udpd.org/faq covers report request procedures along with other common questions about department services.
To request a report, contact the records office at 610-734-7678 to confirm the report is available and learn what you need to bring. In most cases you will need a valid photo ID and the report fee. For incidents where you were a named party, the process is usually straightforward. Third-party requests require more information and may take additional time for review. Some reports may be restricted while an investigation is ongoing, and staff will advise you of the timeline if that is the case for the Upper Darby police blotter record you are seeking.
The records office handles standard report requests. For requests that go beyond what the records office can provide through the standard process, a formal Right-to-Know request is the next step. This applies to situations where a report is denied, where you are seeking records held by a different division, or where you want a category of records rather than a single report from the Upper Darby police blotter.
| Address | 7236 West Chester Pike Upper Darby, PA 19082 |
|---|---|
| Department Phone | 610-734-7686 |
| Records Office | 610-734-7678 |
| Report Fee | $15 per report |
| FAQ | udpd.org/faq |
Upper Darby Right-to-Know Requests
Upper Darby Township's Right-to-Know FAQs page outlines how to submit public records requests and what to expect in the process under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law.
Residents can email righttoknow@upperdarby.org to formally request police blotter records and incident reports from Upper Darby Township.
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104 governs access to Upper Darby Township police blotter records. The township's RTK FAQ page at upperdarby.org/RighttoKnowFAQs explains the full process. Formal RTK requests can be emailed to righttoknow@upperdarby.org. Written mail requests are also accepted. The township must respond within five business days, with extensions permitted by law for complex requests. If your request for Upper Darby police blotter records is denied, you can appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov at no cost.
A good RTK request is specific. Include the date of the incident, the location, the type of incident, and any report numbers you have. This reduces the back-and-forth and gets you a response faster. Broad requests for all police blotter records over a wide date range may trigger an extension because of the volume involved. The more targeted you are, the faster you are likely to receive the records you need from Upper Darby.
Records that may be withheld include those related to ongoing criminal investigations, juvenile matters, and certain victim information protected under state law. The township will provide a written explanation for any denial. Under the RTKL, you have 15 business days after receiving a denial to file an appeal with the Office of Open Records. The appeals process is free and does not require a lawyer.
Upper Darby Township Municipal Resources
The Upper Darby Township municipal website maintains a dedicated police department page with links to records request information and department resources.
The township page complements the dedicated police website at udpd.org and provides an additional access point for public records information in Upper Darby.
The Upper Darby Township police page at upperdarby.org provides department links, public safety announcements, and additional information for residents. The municipal website and the dedicated police website at udpd.org work together as two complementary sources of information. The township site is useful for accessing government-wide resources including the RTK page, while the police website provides more department-specific information like Calls for Service data and the department FAQ.
Township residents benefit from having both resources available. The municipal site is organized by department and makes it easy to navigate between police records, township governance, and other public services. The dedicated police website goes deeper on law enforcement topics, including more detailed guidance on police blotter records, report procedures, and community programs. Checking both before submitting a records request helps ensure you use the right process for the type of Upper Darby record you need.
Pennsylvania State Resources for Upper Darby
State-level resources supplement what Upper Darby police blotter records provide. The ePATCH portal at epatch.pa.gov runs statewide criminal history checks for $22. This covers arrests and convictions across Pennsylvania, including Delaware County and Upper Darby Township cases. It adds background context for individuals named in Upper Darby incidents and can reveal whether a pattern of behavior extends beyond township limits.
Court records from Upper Darby cases are searchable through the Unified Judicial System portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. Delaware County Court of Common Pleas records, Magisterial District Judge records for Upper Darby, and appellate cases are all searchable by name or case number at no charge. When you find a case that started as an Upper Darby police blotter entry, the docket shows how it progressed through arraignment, preliminary hearings, and final disposition. The Pennsylvania Courts website at pacourts.us has plain-language guides on reading dockets and navigating the court records system.
The Pennsylvania State Police publishes Public Information Release Reports at pa.gov for state trooper-handled incidents. State troopers sometimes assist in Delaware County on matters involving state highways or multi-jurisdictional investigations. For those incidents, a PIRR may have records that do not appear in the Upper Darby police blotter. State RTK requests go through the process at pa.gov/services/psp. Criminal history records from any of these sources are subject to the use limitations in 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91.
Note: Upper Darby borders Philadelphia, and some incidents may involve coordination between the township police and the Philadelphia Police Department. Records for those incidents may be held by one or both agencies depending on jurisdiction.
Delaware County Court Records
Upper Darby Township is part of Delaware County, and criminal cases originating in Upper Darby go through the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas once formal charges are filed. The court is located in Media, PA, which is the county seat. All dockets are searchable through the UJS Portal by name or case number. Cases range from summary offenses handled at the Magisterial District level to serious felonies tried in Common Pleas.
Tracking an Upper Darby police blotter entry through the court system starts with finding the docket in UJS. The docket shows the charges, bail status, attorney of record, and all court dates. As the case progresses, new entries appear in the docket log. Final outcomes such as guilty pleas, verdicts, and sentences are all recorded there. For most adult criminal cases in Upper Darby, this information is fully public and available without a records request. Only sealed, expunged, or juvenile matters are withheld from public view.
Delaware County Resources
Upper Darby Township is located in Delaware County. County-level court records, public safety data, and additional public resources are available through Delaware County government.