Find Pinellas County Police Records

Pinellas County police records are maintained by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and multiple city police departments. The county is home to over 970,000 residents across cities like St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Largo. Law enforcement agencies document all incidents, arrests, and investigations. You can request these records through official channels as provided by Florida public records law. Most records become available once the active investigation is complete. The sheriff's office serves unincorporated areas while city police handle their jurisdictions in Pinellas County.

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Records

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services to unincorporated parts of the county. Deputies respond to calls, conduct investigations, and create detailed reports. All records are maintained according to Florida law. The sheriff's office has a public records division that handles requests for incident reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documentation in Pinellas County.

You can request police records from the sheriff's office by contacting their records division. Staff process requests in the order received. Simple incident reports are often ready within a few business days. More complex requests involving multiple records take longer. The agency notifies you when records are ready or if any issues arise during processing in Pinellas County.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office website provides information about department services and contact details.

The sheriff's office website includes resources for residents seeking police records and other public information in Pinellas County.

City Police Departments

Several cities in Pinellas County have their own police departments. St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Largo each maintain separate law enforcement agencies. These departments handle incidents within city limits. Each has its own records system and request procedures. Check which jurisdiction handled your incident before submitting a records request in Pinellas County.

City police departments follow the same Florida public records law as the sheriff's office. They must provide access to most records unless an exemption applies. Contact information for each department is available on their city websites. Processing times and fees may vary between agencies in Pinellas County.

How to Request Records

Getting police records in Pinellas County starts with identifying which agency handled the incident. The sheriff's office covers unincorporated areas. City police handle incidents within city boundaries. Contact the right agency to avoid delays in your request.

Provide as much information as possible when requesting records. The date, location, and names of people involved help staff locate the correct report. A case number makes the search faster. Without a case number, staff search by date and location. This takes more time but is still possible in Pinellas County.

Information needed for records requests:

• Date of incident
• Specific location
• Names of involved parties
• Case or report number if you have it
• Type of record you need

The agency reviews each request to ensure no exempt information is released. Active investigations may be closed to the public. Records about juveniles often have restrictions. The agency explains why if they cannot release a record. Fees apply for copies according to Florida law in Pinellas County.

Note: Response times vary based on request complexity in Pinellas County.

State-Level Police Records

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement keeps statewide criminal history records. FDLE's public records office accepts requests for state-level information. The FDLE online portal offers a convenient way to submit requests electronically for all Florida counties including Pinellas County.

For traffic crash reports, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website provides statewide access. You can order crash reports from any agency in the state. The Florida Highway Patrol maintains records for state highway crashes. Use the FHP contact page to request state road crash reports in Pinellas County.

Public records access is governed by Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes.

This statute applies to all government agencies throughout Pinellas County and the entire state.

Available Police Records

Incident reports are the most common police records in Pinellas County. These documents describe crimes and events that officers responded to. They include details about what happened, who was involved, and what officers did. Most incident reports are public after the investigation closes in Pinellas County.

Arrest records show when someone was taken into custody. They list the charges, booking date, and bond information. These records are public unless sealed by court order. Traffic crash reports document vehicle accidents investigated by law enforcement. They contain driver names, vehicle information, and accident descriptions in Pinellas County.

Common record types include:

• Incident and offense reports
• Arrest and booking records
• Traffic crash reports
• 911 call records
• Police dispatch logs
• Citations and tickets

Body camera video and dash cam footage fall under public records law. Requests for video take longer to process. Staff must review the footage to protect privacy before release. Video requests often have higher fees due to the time required for review in Pinellas County.

Record Fees in Pinellas County

Florida law allows agencies to charge for public records copies. The cost covers actual duplication expenses. Standard paper copies cost 15 cents per page. Certified copies include an official seal and cost more. Digital copies may have different pricing in Pinellas County.

When a request requires extensive staff time, agencies can charge for labor. This applies to requests that take more than a few minutes to complete. The agency provides a cost estimate before starting work. You can narrow your request to reduce the total fee. Payment is required before records are released in Pinellas County.

Note: Fees vary depending on the type and volume of records requested in Pinellas County.

Legal Basis for Access

Chapter 119, Florida Statutes establishes one of the nation's most comprehensive public records laws. Agencies must provide access to most government records including police records. Few exemptions exist, and the burden is on the agency to prove an exemption applies in Pinellas County.

Law enforcement agencies must respond to requests without unreasonable delay. The law does not set a specific deadline, but long waits can violate the statute. Agencies must provide written explanation if they deny a request. You have the right to challenge denials in court, though most disputes are resolved informally in Pinellas County.

For comprehensive background checks, contact the FDLE criminal history records section.

FDLE provides statewide criminal history information that complements local police records in Pinellas County.

Cities in Pinellas County

Pinellas County has many cities. The largest ones have their own police departments. Smaller cities contract with the sheriff's office for law enforcement. Records are kept by whichever agency responded to the incident in Pinellas County.

Other cities in Pinellas County include Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Safety Harbor, Seminole, and St. Pete Beach. Each has its own law enforcement arrangements.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Pinellas County. Each operates its own law enforcement system. Verify which jurisdiction handled an incident if it occurred near a county boundary.