Monroe County Police Records

Monroe County police records are maintained by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and Key West Police Department in the Florida Keys. With about 82,000 residents spread across the island chain from Key Largo to Key West, this unique county has a distinct geography. The Sheriff handles most of the county while Key West PD serves the southernmost city. You can request incident reports, arrest records, and crash reports from these agencies. Florida public records law allows any person to access most police records unless specific exemptions apply under state statute. Contact the appropriate agency based on where your incident occurred. Most documents become available once a case closes.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office

The Monroe County Sheriff serves as the primary law enforcement agency for most of the Florida Keys. They handle patrol, investigations, and jail operations across the island chain. All police records created by Sheriff deputies are public under Florida law once cases close. The Sheriff's jurisdiction covers from Key Largo through the Middle Keys and Lower Keys except for Key West proper.

Sheriff records include incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and booking logs. These documents contain names, dates, locations, charges, and narratives. Most records become available when a case closes. Active investigations may have restricted access under statutory exemptions.

To request police records from Monroe County Sheriff, contact their records division. Provide details like names, dates, case numbers, and locations if available. The Sheriff follows Florida Chapter 119 requirements. Staff can help locate documents and provide cost estimates for copies. The main office is in Key West with substations throughout the Keys.

Key West Police Department

Key West Police Department handles law enforcement within the city limits of Key West. KWPD maintains separate police records for incidents in their jurisdiction. This is the southernmost police department in the continental United States. For records from Key West PD, contact their public records unit.

They handle requests for incident reports, arrest reports, and other police documents from city incidents. KWPD follows the same Florida public records law as the Sheriff. City limits determine which agency has jurisdiction. If your incident was in Key West, contact KWPD. If it was elsewhere in the Keys, contact the Sheriff.

How to Get Police Records

Public records requests in Monroe 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 or explain why you want records.

To request police records, gather this information:

• Name of person involved in the incident
• Date or approximate date when it happened
• Location where it occurred (which key, mile marker, address)
• Type of incident (arrest, theft, crash, etc.)
• Case number or report number if available
• Which agency responded (Sheriff or Key West PD)

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. Complex requests may take longer and incur fees for staff time and copies under Florida law. Monroe County's unique geography can affect response times.

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

Arrest and Booking Records

Monroe County Sheriff operates the county jail in Key West. 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. 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. Mugshots and booking details are public records in Florida and cannot be withheld.

Traffic Crash Reports

Traffic crashes in Monroe County are investigated by the Sheriff, Key West PD, or Florida Highway Patrol. The Overseas Highway (US-1) runs through the entire county. Any crash with injury, death, or property damage over $500 requires a report. 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 US-1, check with the Sheriff or FHP. All reports end up in the state database.

Florida State Police Records

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains statewide criminal records. FDLE collects arrest and disposition data from Monroe County agencies and all other Florida jurisdictions. 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. For criminal background checks, call FDLE at (850) 410-8161. The fee is $24 per check.

Florida Public Records Law

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes governs public access to government documents. Police records fall under this law unless exempted. Monroe County law enforcement must allow inspection and copying of public records. Agencies can charge fees for duplication and extensive search time.

If costs will exceed $200, they must give you a written estimate first. Some records are exempt. Active investigations can be withheld. Confidential informant identities are protected. Personal information gets redacted.

Criminal History Records

Statewide criminal history records come from FDLE. They compile arrest and court data from Monroe County and all other jurisdictions. Contact FDLE Criminal History Records at (850) 410-8161. The fee is $24 for a Florida background check.

Include fingerprints with your mail request. The FDLE office is in Tallahassee at 2331 Phillips Road. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday.

FDLE Public Records

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement serves as the state's central law enforcement agency. Contact FDLE Public Records at (850) 410-7676. Email publicrecords@fdle.state.fl.us.

FDLE provides resources for Monroe County residents. Visit www.fdle.state.fl.us for statewide law enforcement information.

Florida Highway Patrol

The Florida Highway Patrol patrols US-1 (Overseas Highway) through the Florida Keys. They investigate serious crashes and provide traffic enforcement. For FHP records, visit the FHP contact page or call *FHP (*347).

This reaches the nearest FHP dispatch. Use this for highway crash information in Monroe County.

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe County includes the Florida Keys island chain. Key West is the largest city and county seat. Other communities include Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key, and Layton. Most areas are served by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Key West has its own police department.

The Sheriff's Office serves all islands except Key West proper. Contact the specific police agency for your area to get police records.

Nearby Counties

Monroe County is unique in its geography. It borders Miami-Dade County to the north. The county extends south through the Florida Keys to Key West.