St. Petersburg Police Records Search
St. Petersburg is the fifth largest city in Florida with 267,000 residents. Police records for St. Petersburg are maintained by the St. Petersburg Police Department, which handles law enforcement within city limits. The Pinellas 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. Florida's open records law makes most police records available to anyone who submits a request. The department processes requests for residents, attorneys, media, researchers, and others seeking St. Petersburg police records.
St. Petersburg Quick Facts
St. Petersburg Police Department
The St. Petersburg Police Department serves the city and maintains records for all incidents within city limits. SPPD is one of the largest municipal police agencies in Pinellas County. The department handles patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, and specialized units throughout the city.
You can find information about St. Petersburg police records on the city website. Visit www.stpete.org/police to learn about the department and how to request records. The website provides contact information and details on the public records request process.
For records requests, call the St. Petersburg Police Department at (727) 893-7780. Staff can answer questions about available records and processing times. Most records are available within a few business days depending on the complexity of your request.
| Agency | St. Petersburg Police Department |
|---|---|
| Phone | (727) 893-7780 |
| Website | www.stpete.org/police |
| County | Pinellas County |
How to Get Police Records
St. Petersburg accepts public records requests through phone, mail, email, and in-person visits. Each method works for different situations. Phone requests are fastest for simple questions. Written requests work better for complex searches or when you need extensive records.
Call (727) 893-7780 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 in St. Petersburg.
Your request should be as specific as possible. 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, 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 St. Petersburg. There is a small fee for each report. Most are available within a few business days.
Police Records Available
St. Petersburg 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 describing what happened. Most incident reports become public once the case is closed or investigation is complete.
Arrest records show when SPPD 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 Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. You can search recent arrests online through the county jail website.
St. Petersburg 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 and bank account details are removed. Active criminal investigations can be withheld until the case closes. 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 St. Petersburg
Fees for police records depend on the type of record and work required. Simple incident reports may cost just a few dollars for copies. 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 and redaction before release in St. Petersburg.
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. Police records fall under this law.
You do not need to give a reason for your records request. You do not have to be a Florida resident. Anyone can request police records from St. Petersburg 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. Florida courts generally favor public access when exemptions are disputed.
Statewide Police Records Access
Beyond local St. Petersburg 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 background check. You submit fingerprints and a completed application by mail or in person at FDLE headquarters in Tallahassee. Processing typically takes 5 to 10 business days. FDLE compiles arrest and conviction data from all Florida agencies including St. Petersburg.
The Florida Highway Patrol handles crashes on state highways and roads. For FHP records, call (850) 617-2000 or visit www.flhsmv.gov/florida-highway-patrol/contact-fhp/ for contact information. Most FHP crash reports can be ordered online through the state website.
Pinellas County Police Records
St. Petersburg is in Pinellas County, which has its own sheriff's office serving unincorporated areas and operating the county jail. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office maintains records separate from St. Petersburg Police Department. For county-wide records, jail bookings, and sheriff information, visit the Pinellas County police records page.