Search Leon County Police Records

Leon County police records come from multiple law enforcement agencies serving Florida's capital city region. The Tallahassee Police Department handles the city while Leon County Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated areas. With over 293,000 residents, this county has active police operations. You can access incident reports, arrest logs, crash reports, and booking records from these agencies. Florida's public records law allows any person to request police records. Most documents become available once a case is closed. Submit requests directly to the agency that created the records you need.

Leon County Sheriff's Office

The Leon County Sheriff serves unincorporated areas and operates the county jail. They maintain police records for all incidents handled by Sheriff deputies. This includes arrests, patrol calls, investigations, and crash reports in areas outside Tallahassee city limits.

Sheriff records include arrest reports, incident reports, and booking logs. These documents show names, dates, locations, charges, and narrative descriptions. Most records are public under Florida law once a case closes. Active investigations may have restricted access.

To request police records from Leon County Sheriff, contact their records division. Provide details like names, dates, case numbers, and locations. The Sheriff follows Florida Chapter 119 requirements. Staff can help you find specific reports and provide cost estimates.

The main office is in Tallahassee. Call ahead to ask about your specific request. Some records can be provided quickly. Complex searches may take several days and incur fees for staff time and copies.

Tallahassee Police Department

Tallahassee Police Department handles law enforcement within the city. TPD maintains separate police records for incidents in their jurisdiction. This is the largest police agency in Leon County by call volume and staffing.

For records from Tallahassee PD, contact their public records unit. They handle requests for incident reports, arrest reports, and other police documents from city incidents. TPD follows the same Florida public records law as the Sheriff.

City limits determine which agency has jurisdiction. If your incident was in Tallahassee, contact TPD. If it was in unincorporated Leon County, contact the Sheriff. Both agencies can help you determine jurisdiction if you are unsure.

How to Get Police Records

Public records requests in Leon 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 explain why you want the records.

To request police records, gather this information:

• Full name of person involved
• Date or approximate date of incident
• Location where it occurred
• Type of incident (arrest, theft, crash, assault)
• Case number or report number if available
• Which agency responded (Sheriff or TPD)

Call the appropriate agency first. Staff can tell you if records exist and what the cost will be. Some requests are filled within a few days. Large or complex requests may take longer. Agencies can charge fees for search time and copies under Florida law.

Note: Active criminal investigations can be withheld under Florida statute exemptions until the case closes or the investigation ends.

Arrest and Booking Records

Leon County Sheriff operates the county jail. All arrests in the county result in booking at this facility whether made by Sheriff or city police. Booking records are public immediately under Florida law. They include name, photo, charges, bond, and booking date.

The jail roster updates regularly with new arrests and releases. You can request booking information from the Sheriff's Office. This is different from the full arrest report. Arrest reports include the officer's investigation narrative and witness statements.

Get the arrest report from the agency that made the arrest. If Tallahassee PD arrested someone, request the report from TPD. If Sheriff deputies made the arrest, request from the Sheriff. Both agencies send arrestees to the same jail for booking.

Mugshots and booking details are public records in Florida. Agencies cannot refuse to release these. Some charge copy fees for photos or printed documents.

Traffic Crash Reports

Traffic crashes in Leon County are investigated by Tallahassee PD, Leon County Sheriff, or Florida Highway Patrol depending on location. Any crash with injury, death, or property damage over $500 requires a report. The investigating officer files the report with the state.

Order crash reports online through Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/. Search by date and county. The site charges a fee per report. Most reports are available within a few days of the crash.

For crashes on major highways like I-10, US-27, or US-90, Florida Highway Patrol likely investigated. For city streets in Tallahassee, TPD handles crashes. For county roads, the Sheriff responds. All reports end up in the state database regardless of which agency filed them.

Florida State Police Records

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains statewide criminal records. FDLE collects arrest and disposition data from Leon County agencies and all other Florida jurisdictions. Background checks search this central 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 documents, not local Leon County police records.

For criminal background checks, call FDLE at (850) 410-8161. The fee is $24 per check. Mail requests to FDLE, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302. Include fingerprints and payment. Results take 5 to 10 business days by mail. Walk-in service is available in Tallahassee at 2331 Phillips Road.

Florida Public Records Law

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes governs public access to government documents. Police records fall under this law unless exempted. Leon County law enforcement must allow inspection and copying of public records. You can request records in any format.

Agencies can charge fees for duplication and extensive search time. If costs will exceed $200, they must give you a written estimate first. Most basic requests cost much less. Copy fees are set by statute per page or file.

Some records are exempt from public disclosure. Active criminal investigations can be withheld. Confidential informant identities are protected. Personal information like social security numbers gets redacted. Juvenile records have additional privacy protections in Florida.

If Leon County denies your request, they must cite the specific exemption. You can challenge denials in circuit court. Florida courts generally favor public access over government secrecy.

Criminal History Records

Statewide criminal history records come from FDLE. They compile arrest and court data from Leon County and all other jurisdictions. Background checks pull from this central system showing arrests, charges, and 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 Leon County offer electronic fingerprinting services.

The FDLE office is in Tallahassee at 2331 Phillips Road. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday during business hours. Bring photo ID and payment. Same-day results may be available for in-person requests.

Employment and licensing background checks require the subject's consent. 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 serves as 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. The main office is in Tallahassee, making it convenient for Leon County residents.

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 Leon County residents including 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 10 and other major highways in Leon 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 dispatch center. Use this for highway crash information or road conditions in Leon 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 the central state database.

Cities in Leon County

Leon County's main city is Tallahassee, which has its own police department. Tallahassee PD handles police records for incidents within city limits. The Sheriff's Office serves unincorporated areas and operates county jail services.

Other communities in Leon County include Woodville and unincorporated areas served by the Leon County Sheriff's Office.

Nearby Counties

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