Okeechobee County Police Blotter

Okeechobee County maintains police blotter records through the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office, based at 504 NW 4th Street in Okeechobee. Sheriff Noel E. Stephen leads the office, which serves the entire county and processes public records requests for incident reports, arrest logs, and traffic crash reports. You can request police blotter information by calling (863) 763-3117 or visiting the sheriff's office in person. These police blotter records include booking data, offense reports, crash documentation, and daily law enforcement activity throughout Okeechobee County.

Access Police Records

The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office processes public records requests at its main office in Okeechobee. Visit 504 NW 4th Street during business hours to submit requests in person. Staff can help you identify what records you need and guide you through the request process. Call (863) 763-3117 to speak with personnel about specific records or questions.

When requesting records, provide as much detail as possible. Include the date and time of the incident, location, names of people involved, and case number if you have it. More specific requests are processed faster than broad searches. The sheriff's office charges fees based on the time required to fulfill requests and standard copy costs.

Okeechobee County is a rural area in south-central Florida. The sheriff's office serves the entire county and handles all law enforcement operations. The city of Okeechobee is the county seat and largest municipality. Deputies patrol both incorporated and unincorporated areas throughout the county.

Sheriff's Office Details

Sheriff Noel E. Stephen oversees the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office from its headquarters at 504 NW 4th Street in Okeechobee. The main phone line is (863) 763-3117 for general inquiries and non-emergency calls. The sheriff's office operates patrol units, investigations divisions, and support services throughout the county.

The records section handles all public information requests. Staff review requests to find 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 processed within several days, though complex searches may take longer.

Okeechobee County covers a large geographic area with a relatively small population. The sheriff's office provides law enforcement services to the entire county. Deputies respond to calls, conduct investigations, and maintain public safety throughout Okeechobee County. All incident reports, arrest records, and crash reports are maintained by the sheriff's office records section.

How to Request Records

Police blotter records in Okeechobee County are maintained by the sheriff's office. Unlike larger counties with multiple police departments, Okeechobee County law enforcement is centralized under the sheriff. This means all records requests for county police reports go through the sheriff's office at 504 NW 4th Street.

Visit the sheriff's office in person to submit requests. Provide all relevant information: incident date, location, names, case number if available, and type of incident. The more details you provide, the faster staff can locate records and the lower your cost will be. In-person requests allow you to speak directly with records staff and ask questions about the process.

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. The records staff will explain any exemptions that apply to your request.

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

Police Blotter Record Types

Okeechobee County police blotter records include incident reports that describe calls for service, officer responses, and investigations. These reports list the date and time, location, people involved, witness statements, and officer observations. Arrest records contain booking information, charges filed, bond amounts, and mugshots of people taken into custody.

Traffic crash reports are maintained for incidents investigated by sheriff's deputies. Long-form crash reports include driver and vehicle information, crash diagrams, contributing factors, and detailed officer narratives. If a crash involves injuries, the report stays confidential for 60 days under Florida Statute 316.066. Only parties involved, their representatives, insurers, and certain agencies can access reports during this period.

After the 60-day confidentiality period expires, 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.

Records Request Fees

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

Small requests that take minimal time and produce few pages may be provided at no charge or minimal cost. Large requests requiring hours of staff time and hundreds of pages will have higher fees. The records staff will provide a cost estimate before processing your request if the fee is expected to exceed a certain amount.

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

Florida Public Records Law

All police blotter records in Okeechobee 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 remains 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 stay 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

Okeechobee County borders several other Florida counties, each with their own sheriff's office and records systems: