Search Miami-Dade County Police Blotter

Miami-Dade County maintains police blotter records through the Miami-Dade Police Department, which operates from 9105 NW 25th Street in Miami under Director Ramon J. Alvarez. The police department serves unincorporated areas and several municipalities through law enforcement contracts, processing public records requests for incident reports, arrest logs, and traffic crash reports. You can request police blotter information by calling (305) 471-2800, visiting police headquarters in person, or submitting requests through the online records portal at miamidadepolice.com. These records include daily booking data, offense reports, crash documentation, and law enforcement activity across Miami-Dade County's unincorporated areas.

How to Get Police Reports

Miami-Dade Police Department processes public records requests at its headquarters located at 9105 NW 25th Street in Miami. Visit during normal business hours to submit requests in person. Staff can guide you through the request process and help identify what records you need. Call (305) 471-2800 to speak with records personnel about specific requests or questions.

The department maintains an online records request portal through its website. This system allows you to submit requests electronically and track their status. When submitting a request, include all relevant details: incident date and time, location, names of people involved, case number if available, and type of incident. More specific requests are processed faster and typically cost less than broad searches.

Miami-Dade provides several online databases for public access. The arrest search tool displays recent bookings and charges. Crime mapping shows incident locations and types across unincorporated areas. The inmate search provides information about people currently in custody. These tools let you view public information without submitting a formal records request.

Miami-Dade Police Department

Director Ramon J. Alvarez leads the Miami-Dade Police Department from its main facility at 9105 NW 25th Street in Miami. The main phone line is (305) 471-2800 for general inquiries. For non-emergency calls, dial (305) 4-POLICE or (305) 476-5423. The department operates patrol divisions, investigative units, and specialized teams serving unincorporated Miami-Dade County.

The records division handles all public information requests for the police department. Staff members search for responsive records, review them for legal exemptions, and calculate applicable fees. Florida public records law requires agencies to respond promptly and provide access in good faith. Simple requests may be completed within days, while complex searches can take longer.

In addition to the Miami-Dade Police Department, the county has a Sheriff's Office that handles judicial functions. The Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office operates under a different structure than traditional Florida sheriffs and focuses on courthouse security, service of process, and judicial support rather than patrol operations.

Requesting Police Records

Police blotter records in Miami-Dade County come from multiple law enforcement agencies. The Miami-Dade Police Department serves unincorporated areas. The City of Miami Police Department operates within Miami city limits. Many other municipalities have their own police departments. Determine which agency responded to your incident before requesting records.

For Miami-Dade Police Department records, use the online portal or visit headquarters in person. Include as much detail as possible in your request: date, time, location, names, incident type, and case number if you have it. Detailed requests are easier to process and cost less than vague or overly broad searches.

Some records may be exempt from public disclosure under Florida law. Active criminal investigations remain confidential until they close or become inactive. Certain personal information is protected from release. Victim identities in specific cases are kept confidential. Records staff will explain what exemptions apply to your request and provide non-exempt portions of records.

Note: Public records requests require staff time for searching, reviewing, redacting, and preparing documents.

Types of Police Blotter Records

Miami-Dade County police blotter records include incident reports that document calls for service, officer responses, and investigations. These reports contain the date and time of incidents, locations, names of involved parties, witness statements, and officer observations. Arrest records show booking information, charges filed, bond amounts, and photographs of people taken into custody by police.

Traffic crash reports filed by Miami-Dade police officers are maintained in the records division. Long-form crash reports include driver information, vehicle details, crash diagrams, contributing factors, and complete officer narratives. Crash reports involving personal injuries remain confidential for 60 days under Florida Statute 316.066. During the confidentiality period, only authorized parties can access them: those involved in the crash, their legal representatives, insurance companies, and certain government agencies.

After 60 days, crash reports become public records available to anyone. You can purchase them through the Florida Crash Portal at services.flhsmv.gov/CrashReportPurchasing for $10 per report plus a $2 convenience fee. The online portal provides electronic copies within 48 hours of purchase.

Online Search Tools

Miami-Dade County provides multiple online databases for searching police blotter information. The arrest search tool shows recent bookings at county jails. Search by name, booking number, or date to find arrest records and charges. The system updates regularly with new bookings.

Crime mapping tools display incident locations across unincorporated Miami-Dade County. View incidents by type, date range, and geographic area. The mapping interface helps you see crime patterns and recent activity in specific neighborhoods. Data comes from police reports filed by Miami-Dade officers.

The inmate search lets you find people currently in custody at Miami-Dade jails. Search by name or booking number to see custody status, charges, bond amounts, and booking dates. This information is public and updated as people are booked or released.

Florida Public Records Law

All police blotter records in Miami-Dade County are subject to Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, which establishes broad public access to government records. Every person has the right to inspect and copy public records unless a specific exemption applies. Law enforcement agencies must acknowledge requests promptly and respond in good faith.

Some information may be withheld or redacted under exemptions in Florida Statutes Section 119.071. Active criminal investigative information stays confidential until investigations conclude or become inactive. Victim identities in sexual offense cases are protected from disclosure. Home addresses and personal phone numbers of law enforcement officers are exempt from public records.

Traffic crash reports follow special confidentiality rules under Florida Statute 316.066. These reports remain confidential for 60 days after filing if they involve injuries. Unauthorized disclosure during the confidentiality period is a third-degree felony. After 60 days, crash reports become public and anyone can purchase them through the state crash portal.

Major Cities in Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County contains several large cities with their own police departments. Miami operates the City of Miami Police Department separate from the county police. Hialeah has its own police department. Each municipal police agency maintains its own records system and public information process.

View Miami Police Blotter View Hialeah Police Blotter

Nearby Counties

Miami-Dade County borders several other Florida counties, each with their own law enforcement agencies and records systems: