Find Orange County Police Blotter Records
Orange County police blotter records are maintained by the Orange County Sheriff's Office, located at 2500 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando. Sheriff John W. Mina oversees the office, which serves unincorporated areas and processes public records requests for incident reports, arrest logs, and traffic crash reports. You can request police blotter information by calling (407) 254-7000, visiting the sheriff's office in person, or submitting requests through the online records portal at ocso.com. These records include daily booking data, offense reports, crash documentation, and law enforcement activity across Orange County's unincorporated areas.
Orange County Quick Facts
How to Get Police Reports
The Orange County Sheriff's Office processes public records requests at its Orlando headquarters. Visit 2500 W. Colonial Drive during business hours to submit requests in person. Staff can guide you through the process and help identify what records you need. Call (407) 254-7000 to speak with records personnel about specific requests or questions.
Online records requests can be submitted through the sheriff's office website. The online portal allows you to describe what records you want and provide contact information for follow-up. Include as much detail as possible in your request: 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.
Orange County provides several online databases for public access. The arrest search tool shows recent bookings and charges. Crime mapping displays incident locations and types across unincorporated areas. The inmate search provides information about people currently in custody. The sex offender search lets you find registered sex offenders in the area. These tools let you view public information without submitting a formal records request.
Orange County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff John W. Mina leads the Orange County Sheriff's Office from its main facility at 2500 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando. The main phone line is (407) 254-7000 for general inquiries and non-emergency calls. The sheriff's office operates patrol divisions, investigative units, and specialized teams serving unincorporated Orange County.
The records division handles all public information requests for the sheriff's office. 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.
Orange County is one of the largest counties in Florida by population. The sheriff's office serves unincorporated areas outside city limits. Orlando operates its own police department separate from the sheriff's office. Several other cities in Orange County also have their own police departments. Each agency maintains its own records system.
Requesting Police Records
Police blotter records in Orange County come from multiple law enforcement agencies. The Orange County Sheriff's Office serves unincorporated areas. The Orlando Police Department operates within Orlando city limits. Other cities like Winter Park, Ocoee, and Apopka have their own police departments. Determine which agency responded to your incident before requesting records.
For sheriff's office 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 requiring extensive file reviews.
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
Orange 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 deputies.
Traffic crash reports filed by Orange County deputies 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
Orange 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 and releases.
Crime mapping tools display incident locations across unincorporated Orange 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 sheriff's deputies.
The inmate search lets you find people currently in custody at Orange County jails. Search by name or booking number to see custody status, charges, bond amounts, and booking dates. The warrant search shows active warrants. The sex offender search provides information about registered sex offenders in Orange County. All these databases are public and updated regularly.
Florida Public Records Law
All police blotter records in Orange 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 Orange County
Orange County contains Orlando, the county seat and largest city. The Orlando Police Department operates separate from the sheriff's office and maintains its own police blotter records. Contact the Orlando Police Department at (407) 246-2470 or visit 100 S. Hughey Avenue in Orlando for records within city limits.
Nearby Counties
Orange County borders several other Florida counties, each with their own sheriff's office and records systems: