The series consists of entries from the city of West Allis Police Department criminal complaints registers, spanning 1928-1963. Each register has a table of contents on the inside front cover. Complaints are generally listed in two indexes within the table of contents: a property index and an offense index. The property index is broken down alphabetically into subject categories, e.g. automobiles, clothing, jewelry, etc. listing the theft of personal property. Also found in this index are entries for damaged property, property lost and found, and shoplifting. This index is consistent through the years of the record.
The offense index, however, expanded its scope after 1928. Initially the index included only assaults, burglaries, and miscellaneous complaints regarding immoral behavior. The assaults included fights as well as larceny and rape. The burglaries referred to the illegal entry of private and public buildings. Prowlers, peepers, and suspected adulterers made up the balance of the early records. In 1932, the registers began to include gambling and liquor offenses, generally in reference to suspected speakeasies and sale or transport of illicit beverages. Beginning with 1934, labor disputes, public gatherings and riots, counterfeiting, fires (generally false alarms), and business transaction complaints were included as separate headings. The entries for labor disputes concern violence directed against employees and businesses, the threat of violence, strikes and picketing in progress, and the imminent threat of strikes or picketing. In 1940, the offense index began listing entries for Communications and Requests with other law enforcement agencies, such as the Milwaukee Police Department and Sheriff's Department, as well as for wanted persons, deaths, suicides, and attempted suicides. In 1948 separate headings were added for neglected children and in 1950 for narcotics use.
For both indexes, the individual entries within each register are arranged chronologically. Each entry includes the police file number, name of complainant, address of complainant, location where offense occurred, and the item taken or offense committed. Victims' names are not specifically given, although the victim may be the complainant.
