Seminole County police records are official documents created by police agencies in central Florida. These records cover crimes, traffic crashes, arrests, and officer responses.
Most records become public after an investigation ends. Florida law gives you the right to ask for and copy these records from the right agency.
You can get Seminole County police records from the Sheriff’s Office, city police departments, or state agencies. Each agency keeps its own files. The right one to contact depends on where the event took place and which agency responded to the call.
This page explains the records you can ask for, the contact details you need, the fees you may pay, and the steps to submit a request in 2026. You will learn what each agency handles, how long requests take, and what to do if your request is denied.
Who Keeps Police Records in Seminole County
Three main groups hold police records for Seminole County. The right group depends on where the event took place. Some events cross city lines or state roads. In those cases, more than one agency may have files about the same incident.
Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff’s Office is the main police agency for unincorporated parts of the county. Unincorporated areas are places outside city limits. Deputies patrol these areas, answer calls, and investigate crimes. Deputies also help city police when they ask for backup on serious calls. The Sheriff’s Office keeps all reports made by its deputies. This includes crime reports, traffic crashes on county roads, and arrest records from deputy actions.
The Records Unit at the Sheriff’s Office handles public records requests. Staff can pull reports from a central computer system. Most basic reports are ready in a few business days. The unit also handles requests for body camera video, 911 audio, and dispatch logs from the agency.
| Sheriff’s Office Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency Name | Seminole County Sheriff’s Office |
| Address | 100 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773 |
| Phone | (407) 665-6650 |
| Fax | (407) 665-6794 |
| Website | seminolesheriff.org |
City Police Departments
Several cities in Seminole County have their own police departments. These cities run their own police services. Each city police department keeps its own records. Reports made by city officers stay with that city. You must contact the city agency to get a copy of the report.
The cities with their own police departments include Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, and Longwood. If a crime or crash happened inside one of these cities, the city police department holds the report. The Sheriff’s Office will not have a copy of city reports.
Smaller cities may contract with the Sheriff’s Office for police services. In those cities, the Sheriff’s Office makes the report. Always confirm which agency responded before you file a request. You can check the agency by looking at the case number or calling the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line.
State and Federal Agencies
Some events fall under state or federal law. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) keeps statewide criminal history records. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) handles crashes on state roads and interstate highways. The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) stores crash reports filed by all agencies across the state.
Federal agencies like the FBI handle crimes that cross state lines. Most local police records stay with local agencies. You only need state or federal agencies for special cases, such as statewide background checks or crashes on state highways.
How to Request a Police Report in Seminole County
You can ask for a police report in person, by mail, by email, by phone, or by fax. The right way depends on your timeline and what you need. Some agencies also let you use an online portal for case status checks. The Sheriff’s Office lets you use its Community Connect system to see if a case is ready.
In-Person Requests at the Sheriff’s Office
You can visit the Sheriff’s Office Records Unit during business hours. The front desk staff will give you a request form. Fill it out with the case number, date, location, and names of people involved. Staff will search the computer system and print copies for you on the spot.
You will need a valid photo ID. You must pay copy fees at the time of pickup. Most basic reports are ready the same day. Complex requests that involve multiple reports or old records may take several days to pull from storage.
Mail-In Requests
You can mail a written request to the Sheriff’s Office. Include your name, address, phone number, and a clear description of the record you want. Add the case number, date, location, and names if you have them. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check for the copy fees.
Mail requests take longer to complete because of postal time. Plan for two to four weeks. The Sheriff’s Office will mail the copies back to you. Make sure your contact details are correct so they can reach you if they have questions about your request.
Mailing address for the Sheriff’s Office Records Unit:
100 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773
Email and Online Requests
You can email the Sheriff’s Office records unit for simple requests. The public records email lets you ask for basic incident reports. For complex requests, the agency may ask you to submit a written form or use the online portal. Email is best for small requests that do not need redaction.
The Community Connect online system lets you check case status. You can see if a report is ready, pending, or sealed. You can also use the FDLE online portal to ask for statewide criminal history records. The FLHSMV portal lets you buy copies of traffic crash reports filed by any agency in the state.
Phone and Fax Requests
You can call the Sheriff’s Office records unit to ask questions about a case. Phone staff can confirm if a report exists and tell you the fees. They cannot always handle full requests by phone. For a full request, you must submit it in writing by mail, email, or fax.
You can fax a written request to the records unit. Include the same details as a mail request. Add a cover sheet with your fax number. Staff will fax back a response when the report is ready, or they will mail the copies if you include a return envelope.
Records unit fax number: (407) 665-6794
Types of Police Records You Can Get
Seminole County police records cover many types of events. The most common requests are for incident reports, arrest records, and traffic crash reports. Other records include 911 audio, body camera video, and dispatch logs. Some records have limits on who can get them and when they become public.
Incident and Crime Reports
An incident report is the most common police record. It describes what an officer saw and did at a scene. It lists the people involved, the time, the location, and the outcome. Crime reports cover theft, assault, burglary, vandalism, and other crimes reported to the agency.
Most incident reports become public after the active investigation ends. Reports involving open cases may be kept private until the case closes. You can ask for a copy once the case status changes to closed or inactive. The agency will tell you the current status when you submit your request.
Arrest and Booking Records
An arrest record shows when police took someone into custody. It includes the person’s name, date of birth, charges filed, and booking details. Most arrest records are public under Florida law. Sealed or expunged records are not public, and the agency will not release them.
Booking photos, often called mugshots, are public records in Florida. You can ask for a copy of a booking photo from the Sheriff’s Office or the county jail. The agency may charge a fee for the photo. Photos of minors are not public, and photos tied to sealed cases are not public.
Traffic Crash Reports
A traffic crash report documents a vehicle accident. It includes driver details, vehicle details, witness names, and a diagram of the scene. Officers file a crash report for most accidents with injury, death, or major damage. Minor accidents with no injury may not have a report on file.
You can get crash reports from the agency that responded. You can also use the FLHSMV online portal. The portal stores crash reports from all Florida agencies for several years. There is a small fee for each report you buy through the portal.
Body Camera, 911 Audio, and Dispatch Logs
Body camera video and 911 audio are public records in Florida. These requests take longer to complete because staff must review the files. Staff redact faces and voices to protect privacy before release. The redaction work adds time and cost to the request.
Dispatch logs show the time and type of each 911 call. Basic dispatch logs are usually public and easy to get. Call audio is a separate record with its own fee. You can ask for a specific call by date, time, and location.
Police Report Lookup by Case Number
A case number is the fastest way to find a police report. Each report gets a unique case number when an officer files it. You can use the case number to ask for a copy or check the case status online. The Sheriff’s Office case numbers start with the year and a sequence number for each report.
What You Need for a Case Number Lookup
You need the full case number to do a lookup. The number is on the officer’s card, the incident report, or any court paperwork. If you lost the number, staff can search by date, location, and name. The more details you give, the faster the search will be.
Bring a valid photo ID when you ask for a lookup in person. Phone and email requests need your full name, date of birth, and address to confirm your identity. The agency uses these details to make sure they release the report to the right person.
Community Connect Case Status System
The Sheriff’s Office runs a Community Connect online portal. You can use it to check case status for reports made by the Sheriff’s Office. The portal shows if a report is ready, pending, or sealed. It also shows the basic details of the case, such as the date and charge.
Community Connect does not store full report copies. You must still ask the records unit for a copy of the full report. The system only shows the status of the case and basic facts. For the full narrative, you need to file a public records request.
Fees and Response Times for Police Records
Florida law lets agencies charge for the actual cost of copying records. The fees depend on the type of record and the size of the request. Most basic copies are cheap. Large requests can cost more because of staff time spent on the search and redaction.
Standard Copy Fees
Paper copies cost 15 cents per page. This is the rate set by Florida law for all government agencies. Certified copies with an official seal cost more. The extra fee covers the seal and the staff time to sign the document as a true copy.
Electronic copies sent by email may have a lower fee. Some agencies charge per record rather than per page. Ask the records unit for the exact fee before you submit a large request. The agency can give you a written estimate of the total cost.
Large Request Fees
For large requests, agencies can charge for staff time spent on the search. This applies when a request takes more than 15 minutes to complete. The agency must give you a cost estimate before they start the work. You can accept the estimate or narrow your request to lower the cost.
You can narrow your request by asking for a specific date range, a specific case, or a specific record type. The smaller the search, the lower the fee. You can also ask for electronic copies only, which skip the printing cost.
Typical Response Times
Most basic reports are ready in three to five business days. Mail requests take two to four weeks because of postal time in both directions. Video and audio records take 30 to 90 days because staff must review and redact the files before release.
Large requests may take longer than 90 days. The agency will give you a timeline when you submit the request. You can follow up by phone or email if the deadline passes. The agency must respond within a reasonable time under Florida law.
Florida Public Records Law and Exemptions
Florida has one of the strongest public records laws in the United States. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes says most government records are open to the public. Police records fall under this law. The agency must prove an exemption applies before denying a request.
Chapter 119 Florida Statutes
Chapter 119 requires government agencies to open their records to the public. The law covers police, fire, county, and city records. The agency must respond to requests in a reasonable time. The agency can charge only for the actual cost of copying the records.
You can read the full law on the Florida Legislature website. The law lists the few types of records that are exempt from disclosure. The list is short. Most police records are open to the public under the law.
Common Exemptions to Disclosure
Some police records are exempt from public disclosure. Active investigation files are often exempt until the case closes. Records involving juvenile suspects may be exempt. Home addresses of police officers are exempt. Social security numbers, medical details, and financial account numbers are exempt.
If the agency denies a request, they must explain the reason in writing. The reason must point to a specific exemption in the law. The agency cannot deny a request without citing the exact law that allows the denial.
How to Challenge a Denial
You can challenge a denial by writing to the agency head. Ask for a written review of the denial decision. The agency head must respond to your appeal within a reasonable time. If the agency still denies the request, you can file a lawsuit in circuit court.
The court will review the denial and decide if it follows the law. The judge can order the agency to release the records. You can also contact the Florida First Amendment Foundation for help. They offer free legal aid for public records disputes across the state.
Seminole County Sheriff Records Unit Contact
The Records Unit at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office is the main contact for police records in the county. The office sits on Eslinger Way in Sanford. You can visit, call, email, fax, or mail the unit during business hours. The unit handles requests for reports made by Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office closes on county holidays. You can leave a voicemail or send an email after hours. Staff will reply the next business day. The office is closed on weekends.
Records Unit contact details:
- Phone: (407) 665-6650
- Fax: (407) 665-6794
- Email: publicrecords@seminolesheriff.org
- Address: 100 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773
- Website: seminolesheriff.org
Seminole County Police Records FAQ
People ask many of the same questions about Seminole County police records. The answers below cover the most common issues. If you have a question not listed here, call the records unit for help. The staff can answer questions about specific cases and fees. You can also check the Sheriff’s Office website for the latest updates on records services.
Can I get a police report online in Seminole County?
You can check the status of a case online through the Community Connect portal. The portal does not give you the full report. You must ask the records unit for a copy. The records unit accepts email and fax requests. The FLHSMV portal gives you online access to most traffic crash reports filed in the county by any agency.
How long does it take to get a police report?
Most basic reports are ready in three to five business days. Mail requests take two to four weeks. Video and audio records take 30 to 90 days because staff must review and redact the files. Large requests can take longer. The agency will give you a timeline when you submit the request.
Are Seminole County arrest records public?
Yes, most arrest records are public. You can ask the records unit for a copy of an arrest report. Sealed or expunged records are not public. Juvenile arrest records have limits under Florida law. You must show a valid ID and pay the copy fee at pickup.
How much does a police report cost in Seminole County?
Paper copies cost 15 cents per page. Certified copies cost more because of the official seal. Large requests can include a staff time fee. The agency will give you a cost estimate before they start the work on a large request. You can narrow the request to lower the fee.
Can I get a copy of a 911 call or body camera video?
Yes, 911 audio and body camera video are public records in Florida. You must submit a written request to the records unit. Staff must review the files and redact private details before release. This work takes 30 to 90 days. The fee covers the redaction time and the cost of the media.
What if my request is denied?
The agency must explain the denial in writing. The reason must point to a specific exemption in Florida law. You can ask the agency head for a review of the denial. You can also file a lawsuit in circuit court. The Florida First Amendment Foundation offers free legal help for public records disputes across the state.
Do I need a case number to get a police report?
A case number makes the request faster, but you do not need one. Staff can search by date, location, and name. Bring as many details as you can to help the search. A case number cuts the search time from hours to minutes. You can find the case number on the officer’s card or any court paperwork.