Pinellas County Police Blotter Records

Pinellas County police blotter records come from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri directs law enforcement for unincorporated areas and municipalities served under contract. The records system includes arrest data, incident reports, warrant information, and inmate records searchable through online databases. Residents can access police blotter information via the sheriff's website at pcsoweb.com or submit public records requests by calling (727) 582-6200. The agency also maintains crime mapping tools and booking search features for immediate access to recent law enforcement activity. Major cities like Clearwater and St. Petersburg operate their own police departments with separate records systems.

How to Get Police Blotter Records

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office handles records requests through several channels. Visit the main office at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo for in-person requests during business hours. This facility serves as the central records hub for all sheriff's office activity. Staff can assist with locating specific reports and explaining the request process.

Call (727) 582-6200 to reach the main office and ask about public records. Staff will direct you to the appropriate department based on your request type. Have as much information as possible ready: dates, locations, names, case numbers, and incident descriptions. Specific details help staff locate records faster.

Online records requests are available through pcsoweb.com. The sheriff's website includes forms and instructions for electronic submission. Many requests can be fulfilled without visiting the office in person. Response times vary based on request complexity and volume.

Search Tools for Police Records

Pinellas County provides multiple online databases for searching police blotter information. The arrest search database shows recent bookings into county facilities. Search by name, date, or case number to find booking details, charges, bond amounts, and booking photos. This database covers arrests made by sheriff's deputies and inmates booked into Pinellas County jails.

Crime mapping displays incidents across the county on an interactive map. Filter by date range, crime type, and location to see patterns in your neighborhood. The map updates as new reports are filed and processed. This free tool provides quick access to crime data without formal records requests.

The warrant search allows anyone to check for active warrants issued in Pinellas County. Enter a name to see outstanding warrants, charges, issue dates, and bond amounts. The inmate search shows current jail population with booking information and housing locations.

Each online tool has limits. Very recent incidents may not appear due to processing delays. Active investigations might be excluded from public databases. Historical records beyond a certain date may not be available online. For complete records or older documents, submit a formal public records request.

Sheriff's Office Organization

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri oversees law enforcement operations in Pinellas County. The main headquarters at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo houses administrative offices, records management, and support services. The sheriff's office serves unincorporated areas and provides contract law enforcement to some municipalities.

Multiple cities in Pinellas County have their own police departments. Clearwater Police Department serves the county seat from 645 Pierce Street. Their main phone is (727) 562-4242. St. Petersburg, Largo, and other cities maintain separate agencies with their own records systems. Check with the specific city police department if an incident occurred within city limits.

The sheriff's office operates patrol zones throughout unincorporated areas, runs the county jail system, and provides specialized services. These include investigations, traffic enforcement, marine patrol, aviation, and school resource officers. Each unit generates records related to their activities.

Records requests to the sheriff's office cover only incidents handled by sheriff's deputies. For city police department records, contact the specific city agency. Some larger cities have their own online records request systems and public information offices.

What Police Blotter Records Include

Police blotter records contain multiple document types. Incident reports are the most common. These reports describe calls for service, officer responses, investigations, and outcomes. Each report includes date, time, location, involved parties, witness information, and officer narratives. Reports cover crimes, crashes, disturbances, and other law enforcement activity.

Arrest records document bookings into Pinellas County jail facilities. They show personal information, charges filed, arresting agency, bond amounts, and booking photos. Arrest records become public once booking is complete, though portions related to active investigations may be withheld temporarily.

Traffic crash reports filed by sheriff's deputies are maintained in the records system. These reports include driver and vehicle information, crash diagrams, contributing factors, and detailed narratives. Crash reports with injuries are confidential for 60 days under Florida Statute 316.066. After the confidentiality period, anyone can purchase them through the state crash portal.

Warrant information shows active warrants issued by Pinellas County courts. Inmate records track current jail population. Booking logs provide daily arrest information. All these record types fall under Florida's broad public records law with specific exemptions for ongoing investigations and protected personal information.

Public Records Law in Florida

Florida's public records law, codified in Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records. Government agencies must respond to requests promptly and in good faith. The law creates a presumption of public access unless a specific exemption applies.

Several exemptions protect certain information from disclosure. Active criminal investigative information remains confidential under Florida Statutes Section 119.071 until investigations close or become inactive. Victim names in sexual offense cases are protected. Personal information about law enforcement officers is redacted. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and other sensitive data are removed from public records.

Agencies can charge fees for fulfilling records requests. Simple requests are typically free. Complex requests requiring extensive staff time are billed at actual costs based on employee compensation rates. Copy fees are $0.15 per page for single-sided copies and $0.20 per page for double-sided copies.

If an agency denies a records request, they must provide legal justification. Requesters can challenge denials through legal action. Florida courts generally favor broad public access and interpret exemptions narrowly.

Major Cities in Pinellas County

Pinellas County includes several cities with populations over 75,000 that maintain their own police departments. St. Petersburg and Clearwater operate separate law enforcement agencies with their own records systems.

View St. Petersburg Police Blotter View Clearwater Police Blotter

Nearby Counties

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