Frequently Asked Questions

RCPD provides fingerprinting for general licensing applications (i.e. teacher, daycare, adoption, nursing, insurance, etc.).

Fingerprints will be available on a walk-in basis only, Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 4 pm in the front lobby of the Riley County Police Department located at 1001 S Seth Child Road in Manhattan.

• The cost for application and background check purpose fingerprinting is $15 for hard cards.
• The cost for Concealed Carry Licensing is $32.50. 

We accept most forms of payment including cash, check, money order, and credit/debit cards.

Due to overriding security reasons, we do not routinely give away and never sell department patches.

The Riley County Police Department no longer holds drug take-back events.  For disposal on days other than the drug take-back days, the public should go to:

• Rx Medication
  • Walgreens East
    325 Bluemont Avenue, Manhattan
    Walgreens Medicine Disposal website
  • Riley CO Hazardous Waste (non-narcotics only)
    6245 Tuttle Creek Boulevard, Manhattan
    Riley County Hazardous Waste page
  • Hy-vee
    601 3rd Place, Manhattan
    Drop box next to pharmacy
• Sharps/Needles
  • Riley County Health Department
    2030 Tecumseh Road, Manhattan
    Sharps disposal page

We appreciate the public's help in the proper disposal of prescription medications. 

The Riley County Police Department makes every effort to return found property to the rightful owner. When that cannot be accomplished, found property is sold at auction through a local auction company. All funds received from the sale of the property are returned to the state.

At this time, the Riley County Police Department does not offer a Citizen's Police Academy. However, you can request to ride-along with an officer through our ride-along program.

The Riley County Police Department has an Auxiliary Program comprised of qualified individuals who, due to their interest, wish to work with the Department in a voluntary capacity. All Auxiliary personnel are civilians affiliated with the Department in a part-time, unsalaried, non-sworn capacity. Auxiliary personnel assist the Department in emergencies, large-scale special events, and law enforcement related community service functions. Those interested in being a part of the Auxiliary Program are encouraged to contact the Department at 785-537-2112 ext. 2464.

Warrants of arrest, which include both arrest and bench warrants, have no expiration date; they are cleared only when abated by death or when a defendant appears before a judge in the court that issued the warrant.

You may contact our Civil Process personnel during normal business hours by calling 785-537-2112 ext. 1904. After providing your full name and date of birth personnel will search our records for you. In some cases, information related to warrants will not be released via the telephone. Additionally, we maintain a list of all warrants on our website as a way to obtain public assistance in identifying persons with an active arrest warrant in the Riley County Police Department's files. Every effort is made to update this list in a timely manner when new warrants are added or listed warrants are no longer active, but this list should not be used as confirmation that a warrant is currently active.

You can come to the Riley County Police Department located at 1001 South Seth Child Road during normal business hours. If a background check request is emailed or faxed to our department, it will be completed in 3 to 5 business days.

Background checks completed by the Riley County Police Department only cover Riley County. If someone has lived in other places in the state of Kansas, you may instead want to complete a state-wide check with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to save time and money. Find more information on the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's Website. 

The cost for an application and background check in Riley County is $10. We accept most forms of payment including cash, check, money order, and credit/debit cards.

You can contact the Public Information Officer to schedule a time to participate in our Ride Along Program. It is suggested that the request be submitted a few days in advance to ensure officer availability. A form and waiver must be completed prior to the ride along.

Call the assigned detective. If you are unable to reach that person after several attempts or the detective does not return your call, then contact us at 785-537-2112 and ask to speak to a Patrol or Investigations Division supervisor.

Information concerning concealed carry permits can be obtained from the Kansas Attorney General's website.

You may contact the local Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The Riley County Police Department does not provide driver's license checks.

• Manhattan DMV
  8200 South Port Drive, Suite 105
  Manhattan, KS 66502
  Phone: 785-537-2140
• Topeka DMV
  Phone: 785-296-3909

You can visit the Kansas Department Of Revenue website for self-check of Driver's License status.

Criminal history information may be obtained at the Riley County Police Department Monday through Friday 7 am to 5 pm (except on holidays). Requests for criminal history may be submitted in person to our Records personnel, mailed, faxed to 785-565-6550 or emailed to Records. For more information on obtaining criminal history from the Riley County Police Department contact the Records Section at (785) 537-2112 ext. 0. 

To begin the process, fill out the request for a copy of records/background check form here.

Background checks completed by the Riley County Police Department only cover Riley County. If someone has lived in other places in the state of Kansas, you may instead want to complete a state-wide check with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to save time and money. You can find more information on the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's website. 

It is important to note that there are two additional law enforcement agencies that serve the Manhattan/Riley County area and you may request background checks from these agencies as well. They are:

Kansas State University Police Department        Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office

(785) 532-6412                                                                 (785) 457-3353

 The Riley County Police Department software search timeframe will be from 1998-current.

If the record is not requested by law enforcement, a state attorney, or federal agency then you need to direct your request to the KBI.

The cost for an application and background check in Riley County is $10. We accept most forms of payment including cash, check, money order, and credit/debit cards.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigations
1620 SW Tyler
Topeka, KS 66612
Phone: 785-296-8200
Kansas Bureau of Investigations Website

Businesses wishing to update their contact information with the Riley County Police Department may do so over the telephone, in person, or online. Often after business hours, it is necessary for officers to make contact with business representatives. Providing this information will help us to better serve the community. 

Miranda or “Rights Warning” is derived from a 1966 US Supreme Court Case Miranda v. Arizona. By law, a person must be provided their Miranda Warning before being questioned by police if in police custody. A person being arrested by the police are not read their Miranda rights unless that officer intends to question that person and those questions could likely incriminate that person. Non-crime specific questions such as "What is your name?" and "Where do you live?" are not questions that would normally lead to an incriminating response. It is common for TV shows and movies to portray the police advising people of their Miranda rights while they are being arrested. In real life this does not happen, the rights advisory is a very serious matter and if it is to be given to a person in police custody, it is given in a controlled environment and typically in writing. Incriminating information obtained from a person in custody through questioning will not be permitted in court if that person was not advised of their Miranda Rights before being questioned. The arrest of a person does not require Miranda, questioning a person about a crime while they are in police custody does require Miranda.

View a list of tow companies used by the Riley County Police Department.

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with ground effect lighting so long as it does not flash, is not red in color, and the neon tubes (or LED bulbs) themselves are not visible. Red lights are not permitted to prevent driver confusion with emergency vehicles.

Non-reflective tint is allowed along the top of the windshield above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line. The tint must allow more than 35% of light in. A tint of 34% or lower is illegal. Tint colors of red, amber and yellow are not legal by state law. State law recommends, but does not require stickers to identify legal tinting.

In certain instances it is necessary for the Riley County Police Department to enact the Emergency Accident Reporting Phase. EARP is put in place when a high volume of accidents are occurring, most frequently due to weather-related circumstances. When EARP is in effect, motorists do not need to report crashes immediately as long as it meets all of the criteria below. Crashes must be reported within 48 hours of occurrence. To report a crash after the EARP period is lifted, you need to come to the Riley County Police Department located at 1001 S Seth Child Road in Manhattan. All parties involved will need to be present when reporting the crash. 

• No injuries to any parties involved
• No hit-and-run
• No driving under the influence (DUI) or suspected alcohol/drug related crimes
• Insurance and contact information is exchanged between responsible parties
• Property damage is over $1,000 (If it is under $1,000, you do not need to report it to the police)

If there are injuries, a hit-and-run, or DUI, then you should call police immediately to report the crash.

For any crime in progress, call 911. It is helpful if you first provide an exact location, then details of the crime including, if possible, a description of the suspect(s) and victim(s) involved. If you have information about a violent felony crime or know the whereabouts of someone wanted for a crime, you are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777. If your information leads to the arrest and indictment of a perpetrator for a violent felony crime, you may be eligible for a cash reward.

Police officers are responsible for conducting traffic stops when they have reasonable suspicion of a traffic violation or a criminal violation. Being stopped by an officer can be a stressful experience for the driver, any passengers, and for the officer, too. Knowing what to do during the stop will help ensure your safety and the safety of others. When you see emergency lights behind you, it is important for you and your passengers to stay calm and cooperate. Following these procedures can help make a traffic stop a safe experience for all parties involved. This guidance was approved by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) Driver and Law Enforcement Standing Committees, by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

Remember:

• Do not panic. Use your turn signal, and pull over to the right as far as possible, allowing other traffic to pass and an officer to safely walk to your vehicle.
• Turn off the engine and any audio devices.
• Stay in your vehicle unless directed by the officer to exit.
• Turn on your interior lights if you are pulled over at night to assist with visibility. Officers may use a spotlight for additional visibility.
• Keep your hands on the steering wheel or in a visible location so they are easily observable.
• Follow all instructions the officer gives you or your passengers.
• Once the traffic stop is finished, cautiously merge into the flow of traffic.

The officer may approach either side of the vehicle. When the officer approaches the vehicle, remember to:

• Lower the corresponding window so you and the officer can better communicate.
• Let the officer know if you have a weapon in the vehicle upon first contact.
• Wait for the officer’s instructions before reaching for your driver’s license or vehicle documents.

When conducting the stop, the officer will typically:

• Show their law enforcement credentials if they are not in uniform. If they do not show their credentials, you may ask to see them.
• Explain why you were stopped/ask questions about your trip. If you do not understand why you have been stopped, politely ask the officer.
• Ask for your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration. If the documents are out of your reach, tell the officer where they are and wait for the officer’s acknowledgement before reaching to retrieve the documents.

In some cases, the officer may:

• Ask you to exit the vehicle. In this case, keep your hands visible, exit the vehicle, and stand in a location as directed by the officer. Most of the time, the entire exchange will occur without you having to leave your vehicle. However, court rulings permit the officer to decide whether you should step out of the vehicle.
• Impose a sanction such a warning, traffic ticket which may include a fine, or arrest. The officer will typically explain whatever action is being taken. If they do not, you may ask them to do so.

If you have questions, respectfully ask the officer to clarify. If you disagree with the officer’s decision or course of action, do not prolong the contact by arguing with the officer. Rather, you may seek to contest the decision in court through established legal channels. Your acceptance and signature on a traffic ticket is not an admission of guilt. However, the refusal to sign a traffic ticket may result in your arrest. If you believe the officer acted inappropriately or have questions regarding their conduct you may request to speak to a supervisor and/or submit a complaint. This is best done as soon as possible after the stop.

The Law Board meets at noon on the third Monday of each month, provided that if Monday is a legal holiday, the regular meeting will be held on the following day at the same hour. The meetings are held at the City of Manhattan, City Commission conference room and are open to the public. Accommodations are made for those citizens with disabilities. The Law Board meetings can be seen on local cable access television channel 3.

For those unable to attend in person, all meetings at City Hall are also broadcast on local cable access television and online.

Email the Law Board

If you need to contact animal control, please call the non-emergent line and speak to a dispatcher at (785) 537-2112. If there is an emergency, always call 911. Dispatchers will route your call to the City of Manhattan's on-duty animal control officer.