Fort Lauderdale Police Records Online

Fort Lauderdale is a major city in Broward County with over 190,000 residents. Police records for Fort Lauderdale are maintained by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, which handles law enforcement within city limits. The Broward County Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated areas. You can access incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and case files through the department's public records process. The Records Division is currently located at 1515 West Cypress Creek Road. Florida's open records law makes most police records available to anyone who submits a request regardless of where they live or why they need the records.

Fort Lauderdale Police Department Records

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department serves the city and maintains records for all incidents within city limits. FLPD is one of the largest municipal police agencies in Broward County. The department handles patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, and specialized units throughout Fort Lauderdale.

Police records are available through the department's Records Division. The division is currently located at 1515 West Cypress Creek Road. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can contact them at (954) 828-5465 from 6 AM to 11 PM or call the Public Records Office at (954) 828-5924 during business hours.

FLPD maintains incident reports, arrest records, case files, and other law enforcement documents. The department uses an online records request portal for submitting requests. You can also email PublicRecords@flpd.gov or visit the Records Division in person during business hours.

How to Request Police Records

Fort Lauderdale accepts public records requests through multiple methods. You can submit requests online through the department's records portal, by email, by phone, by mail, or in person. Each method works for different situations. Online requests are fastest for standard reports. In-person visits work well when you need same-day copies.

Call (954) 828-5465 to speak with records staff between 6 AM and 11 PM. The Public Records Office at (954) 828-5924 is available during business hours. Have as much detail ready as you can. Case numbers make searches much easier. If you do not have a case number, provide the date, location, and names of people involved. This helps staff find the right records quickly in Fort Lauderdale.

Your request should be specific. Include the type of record you want, date range, location, and any identifying information like case numbers or names. Vague requests take longer to process. Detailed requests help staff locate exactly what you need faster.

For traffic crash reports, note that reports are not public record for the first 60 days after the crash. Early access requires a sworn statement. After 60 days, crash reports are available at www.floridacrashportal.gov for $12. You can also order them through the state website at www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/ in Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale Police Records Fees

Fort Lauderdale has a published fee schedule for police records. Single sided copies cost $0.15 per page. Complex requests may include additional fees for research and redaction based on hourly labor charges plus the copy fee. Photograph, video, and audio records also incur hourly labor charges for processing.

Grid searches that require extensive staff time are billed at hourly labor charges plus copy fees. Body worn camera footage is available for incidents up to 90 days old. Review and redaction of body camera footage costs $35 per hour. Payment is due within 30 days before work begins on the request.

Fort Lauderdale police records fees include:

• Single sided copies: $0.15 per page
• Research and redaction: Hourly labor charge plus copy fee
• Photographs/Video/Audio: Hourly labor charge
• Grid search: Hourly labor charges plus copy fee
• Body worn camera review/redaction: $35 per hour

Note: For 911 audio communications, contact Broward Sheriff's Office Audio Evidence Unit at (954) 321-4302.

Available Police Records

Fort Lauderdale Police Department maintains many types of records. Incident reports document crimes, accidents, and calls for service. These reports include case numbers, dates, locations, people involved, and officer narratives. Most incident reports become public once a case is closed or investigation is complete.

Arrest records show when FLPD officers take someone into custody. The records include charges, booking date, arresting officer, bond amount, and other details. Jail booking logs are maintained by the Broward County Sheriff's Office. You can search recent arrests online through the county jail website.

Fort Lauderdale police records typically contain case numbers, report dates, type of incident, location, names of involved parties, officer information, narrative descriptions, and case outcomes. Some records may be redacted to protect privacy or ongoing investigations. Personal information like social security numbers is removed. Active criminal investigations can be withheld until cases close in Fort Lauderdale.

Florida Public Records Law

Florida has strong public records laws. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes governs access to government records including police records. Under Florida Statute § 119.07, every person has the right to inspect and copy public records. You do not need to give a reason for your request.

You do not have to be a Florida resident to request records. Anyone can request police records from Fort Lauderdale or any other Florida agency. The agency must respond promptly to your request. Most agencies respond within a few business days.

If a record is denied, the agency must cite a specific legal exemption. Active criminal intelligence and ongoing investigations can be withheld. Personal identifying information is redacted. You can challenge denials in court if an exemption is improperly applied in Fort Lauderdale.

Statewide Police Records Resources

Beyond local Fort Lauderdale records, you can access statewide police data through Florida agencies. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains criminal history records for the entire state. FDLE's Public Records Portal at fdle.justfoia.com/publicportal handles requests for state-level documents.

For criminal background checks, contact FDLE at (850) 410-8161. The fee is $24 per check. You submit fingerprints and an application by mail or in person in Tallahassee. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days typically. FDLE compiles arrest and conviction data from all Florida agencies including Fort Lauderdale.

The Florida Highway Patrol investigates crashes on state roads and highways. For FHP records, call (850) 617-2000 or visit www.flhsmv.gov/florida-highway-patrol/contact-fhp/ for contact information. FHP maintains records for crashes, arrests, and traffic enforcement across Florida including the Fort Lauderdale area.

Broward County Police Records

Fort Lauderdale is in Broward County, which has its own sheriff's office serving unincorporated areas and operating the county jail. The Broward County Sheriff's Office maintains records separate from Fort Lauderdale Police Department. For county-wide records, jail information, and sheriff resources, visit the Broward County police records page.

View Broward County Police Records