Find Osceola County Police Records

Osceola County police records come from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office and city police departments. The sheriff serves most of the county. Kissimmee and St. Cloud have their own police. Each agency keeps its own files. Request records from the agency that handled your case. Florida law makes most police records public after investigations close. Some info stays protected to guard victim privacy and officer safety.

Osceola County Sheriff Records

The Osceola County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement outside city limits. Deputies patrol unincorporated areas and respond to calls throughout the county. The agency makes arrests, writes reports, and investigates crimes. All of these activities create police records that go into the sheriff's files.

You can call the sheriff's office at (407) 348-2222 to ask about records. The main office is in Kissimmee at 2601 East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway. Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours. Bring a photo ID when you visit. Staff can help you find the records you need and explain what fees may apply.

The sheriff's website at www.osceolasheriff.org may have info about requesting records. Many Florida agencies now use online portals for public records requests. These systems let you submit a request, track its progress, and receive records electronically. Payment can often be made through the portal as well.

Note: The sheriff's office also runs the county jail, so booking and inmate records come from the same agency.

City Police in Osceola County

Kissimmee Police Department and St. Cloud Police Department have separate records from the sheriff. If your incident happened in city limits, contact that city's police department. They are the custodian of those records under Florida law.

Each city department processes its own public records requests. Procedures may differ slightly from agency to agency, but all follow Chapter 119 Florida Statutes. Fees are the same because state law sets maximum amounts. If you are not sure which agency responded to an incident, call the non-emergency number for that area and ask.

Kissimmee is the largest city in Osceola County. The Kissimmee Police Department handles a high volume of calls. Their records division can be reached through the main police number. St. Cloud is smaller but still maintains its own force. Both departments work closely with the sheriff's office on major cases.

Florida Public Records Law

Florida's public records law is one of the most open in the country. Chapter 119 says all government records are public unless the law exempts them. Police records have exemptions to protect active cases, victims, and officers. Most records become available when investigations end.

Active criminal investigations stay closed. This includes reports, evidence logs, witness statements, and surveillance info. The exemption applies as long as the case is active with a reasonable expectation of an arrest or prosecution. When a case closes or goes cold, the active exemption ends. Some info may still be protected under other laws.

Info that is always exempt or confidential includes:

• Names of sexual offense victims
• Identities of child abuse victims
• Home addresses and phone numbers of law enforcement officers
• Photos and personal details of undercover officers
• Names of confidential informants
• Body camera video from inside private homes unless the resident consents in writing

Domestic violence victims, stalking victims, and others can request that their personal info be kept confidential. The request must be in writing. The exemption lasts five years. Agencies must redact this info from public copies of reports during that time in Osceola County.

Under Florida Statute 112.533, complaints against law enforcement officers stay confidential while being investigated. The investigation is presumed inactive 45 days after the complaint is filed if no finding has been made. After that, the complaint and investigation records become public unless another exemption applies.

Requesting Police Records

Anyone can request police records in Osceola County. You do not have to explain why you want them. You do not need to give your name unless the law requires it for that type of record. Agencies can only ask for info that helps them find the records you want.

Be specific when you make a request. Include the date and time if you know it. The location helps narrow the search. Names of people involved make it easier. A case number speeds things up. The more detail you provide, the faster staff can locate the right records.

You can request records by:

• Visiting the records office in person
• Calling the main agency number
• Using an online public records portal if the agency has one
• Sending a written request by mail
• Emailing the public records contact

Agencies must respond promptly. They tell you when records will be ready. If the request is large, they may need extra time. They must give you a cost estimate for requests that involve fees. You decide whether to pay or withdraw your request. If they deny access, they must cite the specific law that exempts the info.

For statewide criminal history, use the FDLE Public Records Portal. For crash reports older than 60 days, go to the Florida Crash Portal. Local incident reports come from the agency that handled the call in Osceola County.

Types of Police Records

Law enforcement agencies create many types of records. Incident reports document calls for service. Arrest reports show who was arrested and the charge. Crash reports detail traffic accidents. Each type has different info and access rules.

Incident reports include basic facts about what happened. The date, time, and location appear in every report. Names of involved parties may be listed. A narrative describes what officers saw and did. Some details get redacted based on exemptions. The report becomes public when the investigation closes.

Arrest records include the person's name, age, address, and description. The charge and bond amount appear on booking documents. Mugshots are public unless the arrest is expunged. The record stays on file even if charges are dropped. To remove it from public view, you must petition the court for sealing or expungement.

Jail records show who is currently in custody at the Osceola County Jail. These records include booking date, charges, and bond. Many agencies post this info online as an inmate roster. Once someone is released, they come off the roster but the booking record remains on file with the sheriff.

Traffic Crash Reports

Traffic crashes in Osceola County are handled by several agencies. The Florida Highway Patrol covers state roads and highways like the Florida Turnpike. Local police handle city streets. The sheriff responds to crashes on county roads. All reports go to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Florida Statute 316.066 makes crash reports confidential for 60 days. Only people involved in the crash, their lawyers, insurance agents, and certain others can get them during this time. After 60 days, reports become fully public.

Buy crash reports through the Florida Crash Portal. Search by date, name, or report number. Each report costs $10 plus a $2 service fee. Pay by credit card online. Download the report within 48 hours or the link expires and you must buy it again.

Reports appear in the portal within 10 days of the crash. If you need a report sooner or it is not online yet, contact the agency that investigated. For help with crash reports, call FLHSMV Crash Records at (850) 617-3416 option 5. You can also email CrashRecords@flhsmv.gov.

Fees for Police Records

Florida law limits what agencies can charge for public records. Standard copies cost up to 15 cents per one-sided page. Two-sided copies cost up to 20 cents per page. Certified copies add up to $1 more per document. These limits are in Section 119.07.

Requests that take more than 15 minutes or involve more than 20 pages may have extra charges. Agencies can bill for staff time at the employee's hourly rate. This covers searching, reviewing, and copying. They must tell you the estimated cost before they start. You can agree to pay or withdraw your request.

Electronic records may cost differently. CDs or USB drives cost what the media costs plus staff time. Special data extraction from databases can be charged at actual cost. All fees must reflect actual expenses. Agencies cannot make a profit from public records.

Legal Help and Resources

Legal aid groups serve Osceola County residents who need help with police records or criminal matters. Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida provides free assistance to low-income individuals. The Florida Bar runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with local attorneys.

The FDLE Office of Open Government helps with public records questions. Call (850) 410-7676 or email publicrecords@fdle.state.fl.us for guidance. Their website has sample request letters and explains exemptions.

For criminal history questions, contact FDLE Criminal History Records at (850) 410-8161. They can tell you what shows on your background check. To seal or expunge a record, file a petition with the Osceola County Clerk of Court. The clerk provides forms and instructions.

Cities in Osceola County

Osceola County has several cities and communities. Kissimmee is the county seat and largest city. St. Cloud is another major city with its own police force. Other areas rely on the county sheriff for law enforcement.

Other communities in Osceola County include St. Cloud, Celebration, Poinciana, and Buenaventura Lakes. Most of these areas use the Osceola County Sheriff for police services.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Osceola County. Each has separate law enforcement agencies and records systems. Contact the right county based on where your incident occurred.