Hillsborough County Police Blotter Files
Hillsborough County police blotter records are maintained by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 2008 East 8th Avenue in Tampa. The sheriff's office handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas while the City of Tampa operates its own police department within city limits. You can request police blotter information from the sheriff's office for incidents in their jurisdiction, including incident reports, arrest records, traffic crash reports, and daily booking logs. The sheriff's office provides online databases for arrest inquiries, crime mapping, warrant searches, inmate searches, and sex offender searches. These records document deputy responses to calls, investigations, arrests, crash reports, and other law enforcement activity throughout the unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County. Florida public records law allows any person to inspect and copy these documents unless they contain information protected by a specific exemption.
Hillsborough County Quick Facts
How to Request Police Blotter Records
Call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200 to request public records. This is the non-emergency number that connects to administrative staff. Explain what type of record you need and provide all details you have about the incident. Include the date, location, names of people involved, and a case number if available.
The sheriff's office provides online records request options through their website at hillsboroughsheriff.org. Electronic requests go directly to the records division and may be processed faster than phone or in-person requests. The website also provides multiple online databases where you can search for information without submitting a formal records request.
You can visit the sheriff's office at 2008 East 8th Avenue in Tampa to submit a request in person. Bring photo ID and fill out a public records request form. Staff will review your request and provide an estimate of processing time and cost. Complex requests take several days because staff must locate records, review for exempt information, and redact confidential data.
The sheriff's office maintains several online databases for public use. The arrest inquiry database shows recent bookings. The crime mapping tool displays incident locations across the county. The warrant search database lists active warrants. The inmate search shows current jail population. The sex offender search provides registry information. These free tools give you access to significant police blotter data without filing formal records requests.
Note: For incidents within Tampa city limits, contact Tampa Police Department at (813) 276-3200 at 411 North Franklin Street.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
The sheriff's office is located at 2008 East 8th Avenue in Tampa. This central facility handles law enforcement operations for unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County. Sheriff Chad Chronister leads the agency. The office provides patrol, investigations, records management, and jail operations.
Call (813) 247-8200 for the non-emergency line. This number connects to dispatch and administrative staff who can direct your call to the right department. For public records requests, you can use the online system or ask to speak with someone in the records division.
The official website at hillsboroughsheriff.org provides extensive online services. You can search arrests, view crime maps, check warrants, search inmates, and submit records requests electronically. The website is a primary resource for accessing police blotter information in Hillsborough County.
What Police Blotter Records Contain
Police blotter records in Hillsborough County document law enforcement activity in unincorporated areas. Incident reports are the core record type. These reports detail calls for service, crimes reported, investigations, and arrests. Each incident report includes the date and time, location, people involved, witness statements, evidence collected, and the deputy's narrative of what happened.
Arrest records show who was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies. When someone is arrested and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail, a booking record is created with their name, date of birth, physical description, booking photo, charges filed, arresting officer, and bond amount. You can search arrest records online through the sheriff's office arrest inquiry database.
Traffic crash reports filed by Hillsborough County deputies contain driver information, vehicle details, crash diagrams, contributing factors, weather conditions, road conditions, injuries, and the deputy's analysis. These reports are used by insurance companies, attorneys, and others involved in crash-related matters. Crash reports are confidential for 60 days after filing, then become public.
Note: Active criminal investigative information remains confidential until investigations conclude or become inactive.
Types of Police Blotter Records Available
Daily booking logs show who was arrested and booked into the county jail. The sheriff's office provides an online arrest inquiry database that displays recent bookings. This free tool lets you search by name, date, or booking number without submitting a formal records request. You can see booking photos, charges, bond amounts, and custody status.
Offense reports document specific crimes and incidents investigated by sheriff's deputies. Burglary reports, theft reports, battery reports, and other crime documentation are maintained in the records system. Each offense report contains victim information, suspect descriptions, witness statements, property descriptions, and investigative findings. Some details may be redacted to protect victim identities.
Crime mapping data shows incident locations across Hillsborough County. The online crime mapping tool displays recent incidents on an interactive map. You can filter by date, location, and incident type. This tool provides a visual overview of police blotter activity in different areas of the county without requesting individual reports.
Warrant information is available through the online warrant search database. This tool shows active warrants issued in Hillsborough County. You can search by name to see if someone has an outstanding warrant. The database is updated regularly with current warrant information.
Public Records Fees
Hillsborough County charges fees based on Florida public records law. Copy fees are $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page. These are the statutory maximum rates. The sheriff's office cannot charge more than these amounts for standard paper copies.
Labor fees apply when requests require extensive staff time. The first 15 minutes of search and review time are typically free. Requests taking longer are charged at the hourly compensation rate of the employee performing the work. This includes time locating records, reviewing for exempt information, redacting confidential data, and preparing copies.
Payment is due before records are released. Cash is usually accepted. Money orders and business checks may be accepted. Personal checks might not be taken. Some agencies accept credit cards but charge a processing fee. Ask about payment methods when you submit your request.
For traffic crash reports older than 60 days, you can purchase them through the Florida Crash Portal for $10 per report plus $2 online fee.
Florida Public Records Law
All police blotter records in Hillsborough County are subject to Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes. This law grants every person the right to inspect and copy public records. The sheriff's office must acknowledge requests promptly and respond in good faith. Agencies cannot unreasonably delay or deny access to non-exempt records.
Exemptions exist for certain information. Florida Statutes Section 119.071 lists exemptions including active criminal investigative information, social security numbers, bank account numbers, home addresses of law enforcement officers, and other sensitive data. The sheriff's office must identify the specific exemption and redact only the exempt portions.
Traffic crash reports follow Florida Statute 316.066. Crash reports are confidential for 60 days after filing. Unauthorized disclosure during this period is a third-degree felony. After 60 days, reports become public and can be purchased through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Major Cities in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County contains Tampa, the county seat and largest city. Tampa operates its own police department separate from the sheriff's office. For incidents within Tampa city limits, contact Tampa Police Department.
Nearby Counties
Hillsborough County borders several other Florida counties, each with their own sheriff's office and records systems: