Lakeland Police Records Search
Lakeland police records are maintained by the Lakeland Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The city has about 112,000 residents and is located between Tampa and Orlando in central Florida. Police reports, incident records, arrest records, and traffic crash reports are public under Florida law. You request these records from the police department or the county sheriff depending on which agency handled the case. Most city cases go through the Lakeland Police Department. County cases and jail records go through the Sheriff's Office. Both agencies follow state public records law for access and fees.
Lakeland Quick Facts
Requesting Police Records in Lakeland
Public records requests in Lakeland follow Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. This law gives anyone the right to request government records. You do not need to be a city resident. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The law applies to all public agencies in Florida including police departments.
To make a request, you need basic info about the incident. A date or date range. A location in Lakeland. Names of people involved if you know them. A case number or report number if you have it. The more details you provide, the faster the agency can find your records. If your request is too vague, they may ask you to clarify what you want.
Fees apply to most records requests. The first 15 minutes of staff time is free under state law. After that, you pay for labor and copies. Simple requests cost less. Large requests with many files cost more. The agency gives you a cost estimate before you pay. You can narrow the request to reduce fees. Some records are available at no cost if they only take a few minutes to find.
The Lakeland Police Department handles most records for the city. Contact them for instructions on how to submit your request. You can call, mail, or visit in person. Some requests may be submitted online depending on the record type for police records in Lakeland.
Lakeland Police Department
The Lakeland Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the city. Officers patrol the streets, respond to calls, and investigate crimes. The department serves over 112,000 residents in one of the largest cities in Polk County. The police headquarters is located in downtown Lakeland. The department has several divisions including patrol, detectives, traffic, and records.
| Agency | Lakeland Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 219 North Massachusetts Avenue Lakeland, FL 33801 |
| Non-Emergency | (863) 834-6900 |
| Emergency | 911 |
| Records | Contact main line for records requests |
For records requests, call the non-emergency line and ask for the records division. Staff will tell you what forms to fill out and how much it will cost. Some records are ready the same day. Others take time depending on the size of the request. The department follows state law for response times and fees for police records in Lakeland.
Types of Police Records Available
Police records in Lakeland include many document types. Incident reports are the most common. These are filed when officers respond to a call. The report describes what happened, who was involved, and what the officers did. You can get incident reports for burglary, theft, assault, vandalism, and other crimes once the case is no longer active.
Arrest records show when someone was taken into custody in Lakeland. These records list the charges, the date, and the arresting officer. Arrest data is sent to the county jail and to the state. You can search for arrest records through the Polk County Sheriff at polksheriff.net. The Sheriff's Office keeps jail records and booking info for the entire county.
Traffic crash reports are another common record type. If you were in a car accident in Lakeland, the police likely filed a report. You can order Florida crash reports from the state at FLHSMV crash reports. The cost is $10 for a long-form report and $8 for a short-form report. You need the crash date and location to order. Reports are usually ready within a few days of the accident.
Other record types include body camera video, 911 call recordings, and dispatch logs. These are public but take longer to process. The agency must review video and audio to redact private info. You may pay for staff time if the review takes more than 15 minutes. Always ask about fees before you submit a large request for police records in Lakeland.
Note: Body camera footage may take several weeks to process due to redaction requirements.
Polk County Sheriff and Court Records
The Polk County Sheriff's Office also operates in Lakeland. The agency runs the county jail and provides law enforcement in unincorporated areas. They also assist city police on regional cases. If your case involves the Sheriff's Office, you need to request records from them. The Sheriff's website is at polksheriff.net. They have info on inmates, warrants, and public records requests.
The county jail is in Bartow, the county seat. All arrests in Lakeland may result in booking at the county facility. The Sheriff's Office keeps jail records, booking photos, and inmate info. You can search for current inmates online. For older arrest records, you submit a public records request to the Sheriff's Office for police records in Lakeland.
Court records related to criminal cases are kept by the Polk County Clerk of Court. The clerk maintains case files, court dockets, and judgment records. Some court records are online. Others you get by visiting the courthouse. The clerk charges fees for certified copies of court documents. Contact the clerk for more info on court records and fees.
Florida Statewide Police Records
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains a central database for criminal history. FDLE collects arrest data from local agencies like Lakeland Police. They also handle background checks and fingerprint records. You can request statewide criminal history by calling (850) 410-8161 or visiting FDLE Criminal History Records.
FDLE has a public records portal at fdle.justfoia.com. You can submit online requests for statewide records. This is useful if you need records from more than one city or county. FDLE can coordinate with local agencies to gather your records. Processing times depend on the size of the request for police records in Florida.
The Florida Highway Patrol handles traffic enforcement on state roads and interstates. Contact FHP at flhsmv.gov/florida-highway-patrol for records related to state troopers. FHP operates under the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. They keep crash reports and enforcement records for highways near Lakeland.
Florida Public Records Law
Florida's public records law is one of the broadest in the country. Chapter 119, Florida Statutes requires agencies to make records available unless an exemption applies. The law covers all public agencies including the Lakeland Police Department. Agencies must respond quickly to requests. Delays are only allowed if there is a legal reason.
You have the right to inspect records before paying for copies. This lets you see what you are getting before you pay. Agencies charge for staff time if a request takes more than 15 minutes to complete. They also charge for copies. But they cannot charge you just to look at the records in their office for police records in Lakeland.
Some records are exempt from disclosure. Active criminal investigations are often withheld until the case is closed. Personal info like social security numbers and home addresses is redacted. Juvenile records have extra protections under state law. If the agency denies your request, they must cite the specific law. You can challenge the denial in court if you think the record should be public.
Polk County Police Records
Lakeland is located in Polk County. The county sheriff, jail, and court system maintain additional police and criminal records. For more on county-level law enforcement and court documents, visit the Polk County police records page.