Monroe County Police Blotter

Monroe County police blotter records are maintained by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, which operates from 5525 College Road in Key West under Sheriff Rick Ramsay. The sheriff's office serves the entire Florida Keys and processes public records requests for incident reports, arrest logs, and traffic crash reports. You can request police blotter information by calling (305) 292-7000, visiting the sheriff's office in person, or using the online records portal at monroesheriff.com. These records cover daily operations, booking logs, offense reports, crash documentation, and law enforcement activity throughout Monroe County and the Keys.

Accessing Police Blotter Records

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office processes all public records requests at its Key West headquarters. Visit 5525 College Road during business hours to submit requests in person. Records staff can help you identify what documents you need and explain the request process. Call (305) 292-7000 to speak with personnel about specific records or questions.

Online records requests can be submitted through the sheriff's office website. The online portal lets you describe what records you want and provide contact information for follow-up. Include as much detail as possible: incident date and time, location, names of people involved, case number if you know it, and type of incident. Specific requests are processed faster and typically cost less than broad searches.

Monroe County spans the entire Florida Keys, from Key Largo to Key West. The sheriff's office handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas and some municipalities through contracts. Key West operates its own police department separate from the sheriff's office. Determine which agency responded to your incident before submitting a records request.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Rick Ramsay leads the Monroe County Sheriff's Office from its main facility at 5525 College Road in Key West. The main phone line is (305) 292-7000 for general inquiries and non-emergency calls. The sheriff's office operates patrol divisions, marine patrol units, investigations, and support services throughout the Florida Keys.

The records division processes all public information requests for the sheriff's office. Staff review requests to locate responsive records, check for legal exemptions, and calculate fees. Under Florida public records law, agencies must respond promptly and provide access in good faith. Most requests can be completed within several days, though complex searches may take longer.

Monroe County presents unique challenges for law enforcement due to its geography. The county stretches over 100 miles from the mainland to Key West, connected by the Overseas Highway. The sheriff's office maintains substations throughout the Keys to serve different areas. Marine patrol units handle waterway enforcement and respond to incidents on the water.

How to Request Records

Police blotter records in Monroe County come from the sheriff's office and the Key West Police Department. The sheriff's office serves most of the Florida Keys. Key West operates its own police department within city limits. Each agency maintains separate records systems and processes requests independently.

For sheriff's office records, visit the main office in Key West or use the online portal at monroesheriff.com. Provide all relevant information: incident date, location, names, case number if available, and incident type. The more details you include, the faster staff can find records and the lower your cost will be.

Some records are exempt from public disclosure under Florida law. Active criminal investigations remain confidential until they close or become inactive. Personal information about law enforcement officers is protected. Victim identities in certain cases are kept confidential. Records staff will explain any exemptions that apply and provide non-exempt portions of documents.

Note: Records requests require staff time to search files, review documents, and prepare them for release.

Types of Police Records

Monroe County police blotter records include incident reports that detail calls for service, officer responses, and investigations. These reports contain the date and time, location, names of people involved, witness statements, and officer observations. Arrest records show booking information, charges filed, bond amounts, and photos of people taken into custody by deputies.

Traffic crash reports are maintained for incidents investigated by sheriff's deputies throughout the Florida Keys. Long-form crash reports include driver information, vehicle details, crash diagrams, contributing factors, and complete officer narratives. Crash reports involving personal injuries stay confidential for 60 days under Florida Statute 316.066. During this period, only parties involved, their lawyers, insurers, and certain agencies can access them.

After the 60-day confidentiality period ends, crash reports become public records. Anyone can purchase them through the Florida Crash Portal at services.flhsmv.gov/CrashReportPurchasing for $10 per report plus a $2 convenience fee. The portal provides electronic copies within 48 hours of purchase.

Public Records Fees

Monroe County charges fees for public records based on the cost to produce them. Staff time is charged at the hourly rate of the employee processing the request. Copy fees follow Florida law: $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page. Electronic copies may have different fees depending on format and delivery method.

Small requests requiring minimal staff time and few pages may be provided at little or no cost. Large requests requiring extensive searching, reviewing, and copying will have higher fees. Records staff will provide cost estimates for requests expected to exceed $100 before beginning work.

Payment is required before records are released. The sheriff's office accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards. Some payment methods may have service fees. Ask about payment options when you submit your request.

Florida Public Records Law

All police blotter records in Monroe County are governed by Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, the state's public records law. This law gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records unless an exemption applies. Agencies must provide access promptly and cannot unreasonably delay responses.

Certain information is exempt from disclosure under Florida Statutes Section 119.071. Active criminal investigative information stays confidential during ongoing investigations. Personal information about law enforcement officers is protected. Victim identities in specific crimes are kept confidential. When exemptions apply, agencies redact the protected information and release the rest.

Traffic crash reports have special confidentiality rules under Florida Statute 316.066. Reports remain confidential for 60 days if they involve injuries. Unauthorized disclosure is a felony. After 60 days, anyone can purchase reports through the state crash portal.

Nearby Counties

Monroe County is located at the southern tip of Florida and borders Miami-Dade County to the north: