Taylor County Police Records

The Taylor County Sheriff's Office in Perry manages all police blotter records for the county at their headquarters on 108 N. Jefferson Street. Sheriff Wayne Padgett oversees the department, which serves unincorporated Taylor County and handles law enforcement duties across the region. Request police blotter information, incident reports, arrest logs, and crash reports by calling (850) 584-4225 or visiting the sheriff's office in person during business hours. The office maintains records of all law enforcement activity and provides public access according to Florida public records laws.

Taylor County Sheriff's Office Details

The Taylor County Sheriff's Office operates from 108 N. Jefferson Street in Perry. Call (850) 584-4225 to reach the main office. Sheriff Wayne Padgett leads the department and supervises all law enforcement operations in Taylor County. Deputies patrol unincorporated areas, respond to emergency calls, investigate crimes, and maintain public safety throughout the county.

This office handles all aspects of law enforcement. Deputies file reports on every incident they respond to, from minor traffic stops to serious felony investigations. The Records Division stores these reports and makes them available to the public under Florida's sunshine laws. Visit the office during regular business hours to submit a records request in person.

The sheriff's office also operates the county jail, serves civil process papers, and provides court security. Staff at the jail maintain booking records for everyone arrested in Taylor County. These arrest records become part of the public police blotter and can be requested through the same process as incident reports.

Requesting Taylor County Police Blotter

Start your records request by calling the Taylor County Sheriff's Office at (850) 584-4225. Staff will guide you through the process and explain what information you need to provide. Include the date of the incident, location, names of people involved, and any case numbers you have. The more details you give, the easier it is for staff to locate the right records.

You can also visit the sheriff's office in person at 108 N. Jefferson Street in Perry. Bring identification and be prepared to fill out a records request form. Staff will search for the documents you need and inform you about any fees before processing your request. In-person visits often result in faster service, especially for simple requests.

Florida law requires the sheriff's office to respond to your request promptly. For straightforward requests, you may get records the same day. Complex searches that involve many documents or require extensive review take longer. The office will keep you informed about the status and let you know when records are ready for pickup or delivery.

Some records cannot be released to the public. Active criminal investigations stay confidential until they close. Personal information like Social Security numbers gets redacted. Medical records and certain victim information remain protected. If your request involves exempt material, staff will explain what portions can be released.

What Police Blotter Records Include

Police blotter records in Taylor County cover all law enforcement activity documented by sheriff's deputies. Incident reports are the most common type. These reports detail calls for service, crimes, traffic stops, welfare checks, and other events requiring a law enforcement response. Each report lists the date, time, location, people involved, and what happened during the incident.

Arrest records show who was booked into the Taylor County jail. These records include the person's name, age, address, booking date and time, charges filed, arresting deputy, and bond amount. Mugshots may be part of arrest records when available. All booking information enters the public record once the arrest is processed.

Traffic crash reports filed by Taylor County deputies document vehicle accidents throughout the county. These reports contain driver information, vehicle details, crash diagrams, weather conditions, road conditions, and the deputy's determination of fault or contributing factors. Under Florida Statute 316.066, crash reports involving injuries stay confidential for 60 days. After that period, anyone can buy them through the Florida Crash Portal at services.flhsmv.gov/CrashReportPurchasing for $10 plus a $2 convenience fee.

Criminal investigative reports may have parts redacted or withheld while investigations are ongoing. Once cases close, more information becomes available. The sheriff's office reviews each request to determine what can be released without compromising active investigations or violating privacy laws.

Fees for Police Records

Taylor County charges fees based on how much time and resources your request requires. The first 15 minutes of staff work is free. The first 20 pages of copies cost nothing. Requests that go beyond these limits get charged for additional staff time and copies.

Staff time is billed at the hourly rate of the employee doing the work. This covers searching for records, reviewing them, redacting exempt information, and preparing copies. Copy fees are $0.15 per page for single-sided copies and $0.20 per page for double-sided copies.

The sheriff's office will calculate the estimated cost before starting work on large requests. You can decide whether to proceed, narrow your request to reduce costs, or cancel it. Payment is due before you receive the records. The office accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Ask about electronic delivery, which may reduce or eliminate copy fees.

Public Records Law in Florida

Florida operates under one of the nation's most open public records laws. Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes establishes that all state, county, and local government records are public unless specifically exempted by law. This includes police blotter records maintained by the Taylor County Sheriff's Office.

Government agencies must allow public inspection and copying of non-exempt records. They cannot ask why you want the records or require you to explain your purpose. The law applies equally to all requesters, whether they are journalists, attorneys, businesses, or private citizens.

Certain records are exempt from disclosure. Florida Statutes Section 119.071 lists exempt categories. Active criminal intelligence and investigative information cannot be released until cases become inactive. Personal information like home addresses of law enforcement officers gets redacted. Victim identities in sexual battery cases stay confidential. Social Security numbers and bank account numbers are removed from public records.

If your request includes both public and exempt information, the sheriff's office must provide the public portions while redacting the exempt parts. You cannot be charged for redaction time. The agency should explain what was withheld and cite the specific legal exemption that applies.

Note: Florida's public records law is broad, but exemptions exist to protect ongoing investigations and personal privacy.

Florida Statewide Police Resources

Several state agencies maintain databases that supplement county-level police blotter records. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides criminal history checks at fdle.state.fl.us. These statewide background checks show arrests from all Florida counties, not just Taylor County. You need fingerprints and authorization to request full criminal history records.

The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department runs the official crash report portal. Visit flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports to purchase crash reports from anywhere in Florida. The system accepts credit card payments and delivers reports electronically. You can also view crash statistics and safety data for state highways.

Florida's Attorney General publishes the Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual at myfloridalegal.com/open-government. This guide explains public records rights and how to request documents from government agencies. It includes answers to frequently asked questions and contact information for assistance with records disputes.

Nearby Counties

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