“Cop” has long existed as a verb meaning “to take or seize”, but it didn’t begin to make the linguistic shifts necessary to turn it into a casual term for “police officer” until the mid-19th century.  The first example of ‘cop’ taking the meaning “to arrest” appeared in 1844, and the word then swiftly moved from being solely a verb for “take into police custody” to also encompassing a noun referring to the one doing the detaining.  By 1846, policemen were being described as “coppers”, the ‘-er’ ending having been appended to the “arrest” form of the verb, and by 1859 “coppers” were also being called “cops”, the latter word a shortening of the former.

Please allow 48 hours after reporting of an accident or incident to pick up a copy of a report.  Accident reports can be picked up at our location or purchased online at Buycrash.com.

Yes. There is a $5 fee and proper ID is required. *Fingerprints for gun permits must be scheduled online when you apply for your gun permit. Those are done electronically through a different company. 

Visit or http://www.in.gov/isp/ to fill out an application online.  After the application has been submitted and your fingerprints have been taken through a third party, bring your fingerprint receipt into the police department to be processed.

You can call the Bristol Police Department’s non emergency number 574-848-4464, the Elkhart County Dispatch center 574-533-4151, or 9-1-1. You can now also use our online form  to give a tip or report a crime. This form is located on the “Contact” page.

You can call the non-emergency police number at 574-533-4151.

 Yes. Residents of Bristol can fill out a Vacation Residential Information Report. This form can be found online on the “Services” page.

 Indiana state law requires children less than 8 years old to ride in a federally approved car seat or booster seat that is appropriate for the child’s height and weight. Indiana law also requires that the car seat or booster seat be installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Children ages 8 to 16 must ride in a seat belt. The state of Indiana strongly encourages parents to place children in the back seat whenever possible, though this is not required by law.

Yes. A Bristol Police Officer is a sworn officer for the State of Indiana.  They can enforce Indiana laws in any town.

 You need to be at least 21 years of age, have a valid drivers license, a high school diploma or GED, no felony or domestic violence convictions. You also need to be able to pass a written test, physical test, and an extensive background check.

Yes, but there are conditions.  The town of Bristol now has an ordinance that allows golf carts to be driven on city streets. First a registration application needs to be filled out and approved and a registration sticker needs to be affixed to the golf cart.  Also, golf carts can only be driven on the city streets, not the state roads. ATV’s will not be permitted to drive on the roadways in the town limits.

If your address has five digits your local law enforcement office would be the county.  If you live within the town limits of Bristol it would be the Bristol Police Department.