Search Palm Bay Police Records
Palm Bay police records come from the Palm Bay Police Department and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. With over 115,000 residents, Palm Bay is one of the larger cities on Florida's Space Coast. Police reports, arrest records, traffic crash reports, and incident records are kept by local law enforcement. Most records requests go to the police department. Some go to the county sheriff. Both agencies follow Florida public records law, which gives you access to most documents once a case is closed or no longer exempt.
Palm Bay Quick Facts
Requesting Police Records in Palm Bay
Anyone can ask for police records in Palm Bay. You do not have to be a city resident. You do not need to give a reason. Florida law says most government records are public. Chapter 119, Florida Statutes is the main law for public records. It covers police reports, arrest records, and many other documents.
To make a request, you need some basic info. A date. A location. Names if you know them. A case or report number helps a lot. The more you know, the less time it takes to find your records. The agency may ask you to clarify your request. They want to make sure they search the right files. If your request is vague, they may not know what to send you.
The first 15 minutes of search time is free under state law. After that, you may pay for staff time and copies. Fees vary by how much work the request takes. Simple requests cost less. Large requests with many files cost more. The agency gives you an estimate if the fee will be high. You can narrow your request to lower the cost.
Some records are not public. Active investigations can be withheld. Juvenile records are restricted. Personal info like social security numbers is often redacted. The agency cites the law when they deny a request. You can appeal if you disagree with a denial for police records in Palm Bay.
Palm Bay Police Department
The Palm Bay Police Department handles law enforcement for the city. Officers respond to calls, write reports, and investigate crimes. The department serves a growing community in Brevard County. Palm Bay is the largest city in the county by population. The police headquarters is in the city's government complex.
| Agency | Palm Bay Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 120 Malabar Road SE Palm Bay, FL 32907 |
| Non-Emergency | (321) 952-3456 |
| Emergency | 911 |
| Records | Contact main line for public records requests |
For records requests, call the non-emergency line. Ask to speak to the records division. Staff can tell you what forms to fill out and what fees apply. Some records are available right away. Others take days or weeks depending on the size of the request. Always call ahead if you plan to visit in person for police records in Palm Bay.
Police Records Available in Palm Bay
Police records in Palm Bay include many types of documents. Incident reports are the most common. These are filed when police respond to a call. The report describes what happened, who was involved, and what action the officers took. You can get incident reports for theft, assault, vandalism, and other crimes once the case is no longer active.
Arrest records show when someone was taken into custody in Palm Bay. These records list the charges, the arresting officer, and the date. Arrest data is sent to the county jail and to the state. You can search for arrest records through the Brevard County Clerk of Court at brevardclerk.us. The clerk keeps court case files and booking records for the entire county.
Traffic crash reports are another common record type. If you were in a car accident in Palm Bay, 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 search. Reports are usually ready within a few days of the accident.
Other record types include 911 call logs, body camera video, and dispatch records. These are public but may 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 Palm Bay.
Brevard County Sheriff Records
The Brevard County Sheriff's Office also operates in Palm Bay. The agency runs the county jail and provides law enforcement in unincorporated areas. They also assist city police on some cases. If your case involves the Sheriff's Office, you may need to request records from them instead of the city police department.
The Brevard Sheriff's website is at brevardsheriff.com. The site has info on jail inmates, warrants, and how to request records. You can search for current inmates online. For older arrest records, you submit a public records request to the Sheriff's Office. They handle records for anyone booked into the Brevard County jail, even if the arrest happened in Palm Bay.
Brevard County also has a general public records request system. Some requests can be made online through the county portal. Response times vary based on how complex your request is. Fees apply to some records. Always check with the specific agency to see where your records are kept for police records in Palm Bay.
Note: The Brevard County Clerk of Court maintains court records and case files for all criminal cases in the county.
Florida State Police Records Resources
Florida has statewide systems for some police records. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement keeps a central database of criminal history. FDLE also handles background checks and fingerprint records. Local agencies like Palm Bay Police send their arrest data to FDLE. This creates a statewide record that follows a person across county lines.
You can request criminal history records from FDLE by calling (850) 410-8161 or visiting FDLE Criminal History Records. Some requests require fingerprints. Others can be done by name and date of birth. Fees apply to most background checks. Processing takes a few days to a week for police records in Florida.
FDLE also has a public records portal at fdle.justfoia.com. You can submit requests online for statewide records. This is useful if you need records from more than one agency. FDLE can search their central files and coordinate with local police departments. Response times depend on the size of the request.
Public Records Law in Palm Bay
Florida's public records law is one of the broadest in the country. Chapter 119, Florida Statutes gives you the right to see most government records. This includes police records in Palm Bay. The law says agencies must respond to requests promptly. They cannot make you wait without a good reason.
Agencies can charge for the cost of making copies. They can also charge for staff time if the request takes more than 15 minutes. But they cannot charge you just to look at records. You have the right to inspect documents before you pay for copies. This helps you avoid paying for pages you do not need in Palm Bay.
Some records are exempt from disclosure. Active criminal investigations are often withheld. Personal info like home addresses and social security numbers is redacted. Juvenile records have special protections under state law. If the agency denies your request, they must cite the law. You can challenge the denial in court if you think the record should be public for police records in Palm Bay.
Brevard County Police Records
Palm Bay is located in Brevard County. The county sheriff, jail, and court system maintain additional police records. For more on county-level law enforcement and court documents, visit the Brevard County police records page.