Lee County Police Records

Lee County police records are available from the Lee County Sheriff's Office and multiple city police departments across Southwest Florida. With over 760,000 residents, this county includes Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, and Lehigh Acres. The Sheriff handles unincorporated areas and operates the county jail. City police departments maintain their own incident reports and arrest records. All agencies follow Florida public records law, which allows any person to request and inspect police records unless specific exemptions apply under state statute.

Lee County Sheriff's Office

The Lee County Sheriff serves as the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas. They operate the county jail, handle patrol duties, and conduct investigations. All police records created by Sheriff deputies are public under Florida law.

The Sheriff's Office maintains records for arrests, incidents, crashes, and calls for service. These documents include names, dates, locations, offense types, and narratives. Most records become available once a case is closed. Active investigations may have restricted access under statutory exemptions.

For public records from Lee County Sheriff, contact their records division. You can request incident reports, arrest records, and crash reports. Provide specific details like names, dates, and case numbers if available. The Sheriff follows Florida Chapter 119 requirements for all requests.

Lee County Sheriff does not have a fully public online search portal for police records at this time. Contact the records unit by phone or visit in person. Staff will help you locate documents and provide cost estimates for copies.

City Police Departments in Lee County

Several cities in Lee County have their own police departments. Fort Myers Police Department serves the city of Fort Myers. Cape Coral Police Department handles the second-largest city. Each maintains separate records for incidents within their jurisdiction.

Contact the specific police department for records from their city. Fort Myers PD keeps incident reports and arrest records for the Fort Myers area. Cape Coral PD does the same for Cape Coral. Each has its own public records process and fee schedule.

Other agencies in Lee County include Sanibel Police, Bonita Springs Police, and Florida Gulf Coast University Police. Check which agency responded to your incident before requesting records. Jurisdiction boundaries determine which agency has the records.

How to Get Police Records

Public records requests in Lee County must follow Florida law. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives every person the right to inspect government records. You do not need to be a resident. You do not need to give a reason for your request.

To request police records in Lee County, gather this information:

• Name of person involved in the incident
• Date or approximate date when it happened
• Location (city, street, area)
• Type of incident (arrest, theft, crash, etc.)
• Case number or report number if known
• Which agency responded (Sheriff, Fort Myers PD, Cape Coral PD)

Call the appropriate agency first. Explain what records you need. Staff can tell you if records exist, how long it will take, and what it will cost. Some requests can be filled quickly. Complex searches may take several days and incur fees for staff time.

Note: Most police records are public in Florida, but active criminal investigations and confidential informant information can be withheld under state law.

Arrest and Booking Records

Lee County Sheriff operates the main county jail in Fort Myers. All arrests in the county result in booking at this facility. Booking records are public immediately under Florida law. They show name, photo, charges, bond, and booking date.

The jail roster updates daily with new bookings and releases. You can request booking information from the Sheriff's Office. This is separate from the full arrest report. The arrest report includes the officer's narrative and investigation details.

City police departments make arrests within their cities. The arrestee still gets booked at the Lee County jail. Get the booking record from the Sheriff. Get the arrest report from the city police department that made the arrest.

Mugshots are part of the public record in Florida. Agencies cannot refuse to release booking photos. Some may charge copy fees for printed photos or digital files.

Traffic Crash Reports

Traffic crashes in Lee County are investigated by Sheriff deputies, city police, or Florida Highway Patrol. Any crash with injury, death, or property damage over $500 requires a report. The investigating officer files the crash report with the state.

Order crash reports online through Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Visit www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/ to search and purchase reports. You need the date and county where the crash happened. The site charges a fee per report.

For major highway crashes on I-75 or US-41, Florida Highway Patrol likely investigated. For local road crashes, check with the Sheriff or city police. All reports end up in the FLHSMV database regardless of which agency filed them.

Florida State Police Records

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains a central repository for criminal records. FDLE collects arrest and disposition data from Lee County and all other Florida agencies. Background checks search this statewide database.

Submit public records requests to FDLE at fdle.justfoia.com/publicportal. Create a free account and describe what you need. FDLE responds within a few business days. This portal is for FDLE records, not local Lee County police records.

For criminal background checks, call FDLE at (850) 410-8161. The fee is $24 per check. Mail your request to FDLE, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302. Include fingerprints and payment. Results take 5 to 10 business days by mail.

Florida Public Records Law

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes governs public access to government documents. Police records fall under this law. Agencies must allow inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies. Lee County law enforcement must comply with these rules.

You can request records in any format. Most agencies provide paper copies or electronic files. Fees cover duplication costs and extensive search time. If costs will exceed $200, the agency must give you a written estimate first.

Some records are exempt from public access. Active criminal investigations can be withheld. Confidential informant identities are protected. Personal details like social security numbers get redacted. Agencies must cite the specific exemption when denying requests.

If Lee County denies your records request, you can challenge the denial in court. Florida courts generally favor public access. The burden is on the agency to prove an exemption applies.

Criminal History Records

Statewide criminal history records come from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. They compile data from Lee County and all other jurisdictions. Background checks pull from this central system. The records show arrests, charges, and court dispositions.

Contact FDLE Criminal History Records at (850) 410-8161. The fee is $24 for a Florida background check. Submit fingerprints with your request. Many locations in Lee County and across Florida offer electronic fingerprinting services.

Visit the FDLE office at 2331 Phillips Road in Tallahassee for in-person service. Bring photo ID and payment. Same-day results may be available for walk-ins. Hours are Monday through Friday during business hours.

Employment and licensing background checks require consent from the subject. These go through authorized channels. Contact FDLE for information on becoming an authorized requester in Florida.

FDLE Public Records

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the state's central law enforcement agency. They assist local police, maintain databases, and process background checks. The public records unit handles requests for FDLE documents.

Contact FDLE Public Records at (850) 410-7676. Email publicrecords@fdle.state.fl.us with questions. Mail to FDLE, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302. Office hours are Monday through Friday.

FDLE provides resources for Lee County residents. This includes crime statistics, missing persons alerts, and sex offender registry searches. Visit www.fdle.state.fl.us for statewide law enforcement information.

Florida Highway Patrol

The Florida Highway Patrol patrols Interstate 75 and other major roads in Lee County. They investigate serious crashes and provide traffic enforcement. FHP reports are public records available through standard channels.

For FHP records or questions, visit the FHP contact page or call *FHP (*347) from a cell phone. This reaches the nearest FHP dispatch. Use this for highway crash information or road conditions in Lee County.

Crash reports from FHP are available through the FLHSMV online ordering system. The process is the same as for local agency reports. All Florida crash reports go into this central database.

Cities in Lee County

Lee County has multiple cities with police departments. Fort Myers and Cape Coral are the largest. Each city police department handles records for incidents within their jurisdiction. The Sheriff's Office serves unincorporated areas.

Other communities in Lee County include Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, and North Fort Myers. Contact the specific police agency for each area to get police records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lee County. Each has its own law enforcement agencies and records systems. Check the exact location of your incident to determine which county has jurisdiction.