Gainesville Police Records Search
Gainesville is the largest city in Alachua County with over 148,000 residents. Police records for Gainesville are maintained by the Gainesville Police Department, which handles law enforcement within city limits. The Alachua County Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated areas of the county. You can access incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and case files through the department's public records process. Most police records are public under Florida's open records law. Anyone can submit a records request regardless of where they live. The department processes requests for residents, University of Florida students, attorneys, media, and other requesters seeking Gainesville police records.
Gainesville Quick Facts
Gainesville Police Department
The Gainesville Police Department serves the city and maintains records for all incidents within city limits. GPD is the primary law enforcement agency for Gainesville. The department handles patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, and specialized units throughout the city including the University of Florida campus area.
Police records are available through the department's public records process. You can contact GPD at (352) 393-7500 to request records. The city website at www.gainesvillefl.gov provides information on police services and city operations.
| Agency | Gainesville Police Department |
|---|---|
| Records Phone | (352) 393-7500 |
| Website | www.gainesvillefl.gov |
| County | Alachua County |
GPD keeps incident reports, arrest records, case files, and other law enforcement documents. Digital records from recent years are easier to access than older paper files. The records division can help you locate specific reports if you have details like dates, case numbers, or names involved in Gainesville.
How to Request Records
Gainesville accepts public records requests through phone, mail, email, and in-person visits. Each method works for different situations. Phone requests are fastest for basic questions. Written requests work better for complex searches or extensive records.
Call (352) 393-7500 to speak with records staff. 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.
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 in Gainesville.
For traffic crash reports, you can order copies online through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Visit www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/ to order crash reports for incidents in Gainesville. There is a small fee for each report. Most are available within a few business days after the crash.
Available Police Records
Gainesville Police Department maintains several 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 the case is closed or investigation is complete.
Arrest records show when GPD 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 Alachua County Sheriff's Office. You can search recent arrests online through the county jail website.
Gainesville police records typically contain:
- Case numbers and report dates
- Type of incident or offense
- Location where it occurred
- Names of involved parties
- Officer names and badge numbers
- Narrative descriptions of events
- Case outcomes and dispositions
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. Confidential informant information is protected. Juvenile records have additional privacy protections under Florida law.
Note: Video and audio records may require additional processing time for review and redaction.
Record Fees in Gainesville
Fees for police records depend on the type of record and work required. Simple incident reports may cost just a few dollars. Complex requests that require hours of staff time for searching and redacting cost more. Always ask about fees when you submit your request.
Copy fees are typically $0.15 per page for paper copies. Digital copies sent by email may have lower costs. Search time is sometimes billed hourly if your request takes significant staff effort. Video footage and audio recordings often have higher fees because of the time needed for review before release in Gainesville.
Some records are free to view in person but cost money to copy. Records staff can provide a cost estimate before processing your request. Payment is usually required before records are released.
Florida Public Records Law
Florida's public records law is one of the strongest in the nation. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes governs access to government 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 Gainesville 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 Gainesville.
Statewide Police Records Access
Beyond local Gainesville 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 Gainesville.
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 Gainesville area.
Alachua County Police Records
Gainesville is in Alachua County, which has its own sheriff's office serving unincorporated areas and operating the county jail. The Alachua County Sheriff's Office maintains records separate from Gainesville Police Department. For county-wide records, jail information, and sheriff resources, visit the Alachua County police records page.