How can I apply for a resident pistol/revolver permit?
RSA 159:6 authorizes the Chief of Police of the Derry Police Department to issue a resident of the Town of Derry, upon application, a permit to carry a pistol or revolver. Applications may be obtained at the Derry Police Department. A $10.00 fee must be paid when picking up your permit. It will take approximately 14 days to process the application. You will need a picture identification and proof of residency when you pick-up your permit. No one else can obtain your permit for you. When issued, the permit will be valid for a period of four years and may be renewed during the permit holders birth month. The valid permit authorizes you to carry a firearm concealed while traveling within the State of New Hampshire with certain specific limitations.
How do I obtain a copy of my criminal or motor vehicle record?
Official copies of your criminal or motor vehicle records may be obtained from the Department of Safety, 10 Hazen Drive Concord, NH. They are the central repository for these records. A fee may be charged. However, anyone may come to the Derry Police Department and request a copy of their own local criminal record that we have on our files. This request must be made in person and be accompanied with valid photo identification. You will receive a letter from us indicating that we have or have not had criminal contact with you in the past. The Derry Police Department cannot provide you with a copy of your motor vehicle record.
Do I have to register my firearms with the police?
No, you do not have to register your firearms with the Derry Police Department. However, you should maintain complete records of the makes, models and serial numbers of any firearms that you own.
Do I have to register my alarm system with the police?
Yes, the Town of Derry has a local ordinance that requires the registration of alarm systems that are "installed with the intent of eliciting a police response…" The registration form and a copy of the town ordinance can be obtained at the police department. There is no fee required to register your alarm system. There are fees attached to the number of false alarms that the police respond to at your home or business during a calendar year.
Who do I see to pick-up evidence or other property the police are holding?
Any evidence, found property or property held for safekeeping may be obtained by calling the department's Evidence Clerk, Monday - Friday between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM unless other arrangements have been made. The department will hold evidence until all legal requirements are satisfied. Found property must be held for a minimum of 180 days in accordance with RSA 471-C:13. If the department is unable to locate the property owner or the finder of the property does not want it an auction will be held to dispose of it. Property held for safekeeping may be returned when the reason the police obtained it is no longer valid. We will make every effort to return property as soon as possible after it is no longer needed for police purposes.
What does the "Brady Law" require?
The "Brady Law" requires any federally licensed firearms dealer to conduct a background check on individuals who intend on purchasing a firearm. This check must be done within five days from the date the purchaser completes a "Statement of Intent to Obtain a Handgun(s)" or "Brady form". In New Hampshire, gun dealers can obtain an "instant check" on a purchaser from the Department of Safety via telephone. If a further check is required, the dealer will contact the chief law enforcement officer of the police department where the purchaser lives. The local authorities will conduct the record check on the purchaser at that time, notifying the dealer of the purchaser's status before five days have past.
How are Police Reports obtained, and how much do they cost?
Accident Reports, Incidents, and Crime Reports: can be obtained from the Records Bureau as soon as they become available. You may request the report in person, but reports take time to prepare; and we strongly recommend that you call ahead for a copy of a report so that we can have it available to you when you come in. If the report you are interested in obtaining is for insurance purposes or for a lawyer, you may prefer to have them request the report for you.
Accident Reports: Accident reports typically take five business days from the date of the accident before it is available for release. Once an accident report is available for release, the requesting party will receive the officer’s investigation as well as any written statements made by operators and witnesses relative to the accident. The Derry Police Department holds Accident Reports on file for a limited time. We have reports on file for the current year and the previous year. There are a few exceptions to this policy; however, if the report you are inquiring about is more than two years old, you will need to request the report from the State Department of Motor Vehicles. In most cases, our Records Bureau will be able to tell you whether the report was forwarded to the State. (If the report that you are looking for is a Hit
and Run/Conduct After an Accident report, see Crime Reports below.)
Incidents: An incident sheet is a very brief description of calls that officers respond to. An incident sheet is typically one page of information that includes the date and time of an incident, the location, and the name(s) of officer(s) who responded to the scene. There is a $1 processing charge for the copy of an incident page.
Crime Reports: A crime report is the Police Department’s more thorough investigation of an incident that has been reported. If you are the victim in a crime, you may call the police department at any time to check on the status of your case. Whether or not a report can be released depends mostly on its status. For example, if a case is under active investigation or pending court, details will not be made available to the public.
The cost for each Accident Report or Crime Report is $10 per copy up to ten pages and $1 each additional page after ten pages. If photos were taken at the scene, there is an additional charge; photos are not included in the cost of each report and must be requested separately. Any replication of any audio or videotapes will be charged $25 regardless of the type of tape that is reproduced.
If you are requesting a report for personal purposes and do not intend to be in the Derry area, you may make your request in writing. You will need to include your name and date of birth, the date of incident if known, the type of incident, and an address where you want the report mailed to you. You will want to include a phone number where you can be reached so we can call you if we have questions about your request. Payment must be enclosed. You may want to call first to verify the cost of the report you have requested before you send your request
Arrest Reports/Discovery: If you are calling to obtain a copy of your arrest report for a court date, there are two ways of obtaining a copy. You may either have your lawyer request the report or you may contact the prosecutor's office at police headquarters. If you are requesting a copy of your arrest report for yourself, you must do it in writing. The letter must be addressed to the Prosecutor (specify if the case is a Juvenile matter). In the letter, you need to provide the following information: your name and date of birth, the date of your arrest, the reason for your arrest, the court date that has been issued to you, and an address where you want the report mailed
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