This Open Record is the Hidden Gem You're Probably Sleeping On

Let’s talk about one of the most underrated MVPs in record collection: the CAD report. 

A public records request for CAD reports is usually quick, cheap (or free), and flies under the radar. It's one of the highest return-on-investment moves in investigative work.

Whether you're digging into a criminal case, a civil suit, or just trying to make sense of what really went down on a certain date at a certain place, CAD reports can deliver details you will not find anywhere else and answer questions you didn't know you had. 

Wait… What’s a CAD Report Again?

CAD is short for Computer-Aided Dispatch. CAD reports are automatically generated by the software used by public safety agencies to document and all calls for service.

Think of a CAD report as the digital breadcrumb trail from the moment someone dials 911 to when law enforcement wraps up the scene. You get a behind-the-scenes look at what the dispatcher was told, what the officers did, and when they did it.

Here’s a sneak peek at what kind of juicy info might be inside:

💬 Radio transmissions and dispatch summaries
⏱️ Exact timestamps and officer arrival logs
🚓 Patrol car numbers and which officers showed up
📞 Sometimes the name and number of the person who called the cops — plus what they told dispatch (!)

You can see why we request these in nearly every single case at AK Investigations.

The Easiest Public Records Request You’ll Ever Make 

Here’s the thing about public records: usually, you’ve gotta know exactly what you’re after — a report number, a specific date, a party's name, the precise incident. It’s like trying to win a scavenger hunt with no clues.

But CAD reports? Totally different story. All you usually really need is:

📍 An address (or even just a general area or radius)
📆 A date — or a date range if you’re feeling curious

That’s it. You can cast a wide net and see what comes back. Sometimes you know what you're looking for… but honestly? It’s always way more fun when you don’t.

You might uncover:

• Multiple calls tied to the same incident, but only one in the official report

• Timeline gaps or contradictions between dispatch data and written narratives

• New witnesses, with contact info and raw call summaries

• Nearby or earlier calls that add critical context

• Officer activity clues — who showed up, when, and for how long

• Unrelated-but-actually-related events that reveal bigger patterns

Whether you're tracking behavior, building a case, or just digging deeper, CADs often hold the threads no one else thought to pull. It’s one of the rare times in investigation where “fishing expedition” isn’t an insult — it’s a strategy.

💡 Want to Level Up Your Case Research Game?

If this kind of clever, under-the-radar digging is your thing, you’ll love our course: Backgrounds, Records, and Case Research. We break down police records of all kinds — how to find them, what to look for, and how to use them to build smarter, sharper investigations.