This causes confusion every year, for both appointees and police departments. A good friend of mine did background checks for the secret service. This police record check is simply a precursor to any background check done at the federal level. It is not a background check in any way. It can be filled out by any local, county, state level police department. And only one of those departments is needed. It's just to get the ball rolling. It is very simple, and they should be pleased to do it for you. I can't imagine why they would charge for it.