Santa Rosa County Police Blotter

Santa Rosa County police blotter records are available through the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 5755 E. Milton Road in Milton under the leadership of Sheriff Bob Johnson. The agency provides law enforcement services to unincorporated areas and handles all public records requests for incidents involving sheriff's deputies throughout the county. Anyone seeking police blotter information can submit online records requests through the county website at santarosa.fl.gov/sheriff or call the main office at (850) 983-1100. These records include incident reports, arrest documents, booking logs, traffic crash reports, and daily law enforcement activity from across Santa Rosa County. The records system covers all calls for service, investigations, and arrests made by county deputies serving the community.

How to Request Police Records

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office processes all public records requests at their main facility in Milton. Visit 5755 E. Milton Road during business hours to request police blotter records in person. Staff can help locate specific reports and explain the request process. Bring identification and as much information as possible about the incident you're researching.

Online records requests are available through the county website at santarosa.fl.gov/sheriff. The site provides forms and instructions for submitting requests electronically. Include detailed information: incident dates, locations, names of people involved, case numbers if known, and descriptions of what occurred. Specific requests are processed faster than broad searches.

Call (850) 983-1100 to reach the main office and ask about public records. Staff will direct you to the appropriate department based on your request type. Have your details ready when calling: dates, locations, names, and any other information that helps identify the records you need. Simple inquiries may be handled over the phone, while complex searches require written requests.

Sheriff's Office Operations

Sheriff Bob Johnson leads law enforcement operations in Santa Rosa County from the main headquarters at 5755 E. Milton Road in Milton, FL 32583. The agency serves unincorporated areas throughout the county and provides a full range of law enforcement services. Deputies patrol the county, respond to calls, investigate crimes, and make arrests. All reports generated by deputies are stored in the central records system.

The sheriff's office operates multiple specialized units supporting patrol operations. These include investigations, traffic enforcement, marine patrol, and school resource officers. Each unit generates records related to their activities. Investigative units maintain case files. Traffic units complete crash reports. School resource officers document incidents on school campuses. All these records are subject to public records requests.

Records requests to the sheriff's office cover only incidents handled by sheriff's deputies in unincorporated Santa Rosa County. If an incident occurred within a city that has its own police department, contact that city agency directly for records. The sheriff's office can help direct you to the correct agency if you're unsure about jurisdiction.

Police Blotter Record Types

Incident reports document law enforcement responses to calls for service across Santa Rosa County. Deputies complete these reports for every call they respond to that requires documentation. Each report includes the date, time, location, people involved, what happened, witness information, and officer actions. Reports cover crimes, traffic crashes, disturbances, welfare checks, and other police activities.

Arrest records show booking information for people taken into custody by sheriff's deputies. They contain personal details, charges filed, arresting officer, booking date and time, bond amounts set by magistrates, and booking photos. Arrest records become public once booking is complete, though portions related to active investigations may be temporarily withheld under Florida law.

Traffic crash reports filed by sheriff's deputies include driver information, vehicle details, crash diagrams, contributing factors, and detailed narratives. Deputies complete long-form crash reports for accidents meeting specific criteria set by state law. Under Florida Statute 316.066, crash reports with injuries remain confidential for 60 days after filing. After the confidentiality period, anyone can purchase them through the Florida Crash Portal.

Booking logs provide daily arrest information. Call logs show when people contact the sheriff's office. Warrant information displays active warrants issued by county courts. All these record types are subject to Florida's public records law with specific exemptions for protected information.

Understanding the Request Process

Public records requests should include as much detail as possible to help staff locate documents quickly. Provide incident dates or date ranges, specific locations, names of people involved, and case numbers if you have them. Vague or overly broad requests take longer to process and may cost more because of the additional staff time required.

The sheriff's office reviews all requests to determine what records exist and whether any exemptions apply. Active criminal investigations are often partially or fully exempt from disclosure under Florida law. Personal information about law enforcement officers is redacted. Victim names in certain types of cases are protected. Social Security numbers and other sensitive personal data are removed. The agency provides written explanations for any denials or redactions.

Simple requests requiring minimal staff time are usually provided at no charge or for small fees. Complex requests requiring extensive research or review are billed based on actual costs. Standard copy fees are $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page. Electronic delivery may reduce costs. Payment must be made before records are released.

Processing times vary based on request complexity and current staff workload. Simple requests for specific reports may be fulfilled quickly. Broad searches covering long time periods take longer. The sheriff's office provides time estimates when possible.

Note: Same-day fulfillment is not guaranteed for most records requests.

Florida Public Records Law

All Santa Rosa County police blotter records fall under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, which gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records. Government agencies must respond to requests promptly and provide access unless specific exemptions apply. The law creates a strong presumption in favor of public access with limited exceptions.

Several exemptions protect certain information from disclosure under Florida Statutes Section 119.071. Active criminal investigative information remains confidential until investigations close or become inactive. Victim identities in sexual offense cases are protected by law. Home addresses and personal phone numbers of law enforcement officers are exempt from disclosure. Bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and other financial data are redacted from records.

Agencies must provide written justification for denying access to records. Denials must cite specific statutory exemptions. Requesters can challenge denials through legal action. Florida courts have consistently interpreted the public records law broadly to favor access over secrecy.

Fees for records are based on actual costs. Agencies can charge for staff time spent locating and reviewing records in addition to copy fees. Simple requests are often free. Complex requests may result in significant charges based on employee compensation rates.

Nearby Counties

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