Search Walton County Police Blotter

The Walton County Sheriff's Office maintains police blotter records for this Panhandle county from their headquarters at 752 Triple G Road in DeFuniak Springs. Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson leads the department, which serves both unincorporated areas and provides contract law enforcement to several municipalities in this coastal tourist destination. Access police blotter information by calling (850) 892-8111 or submitting an online records request through the sheriff's website. The office processes requests for incident reports, arrest logs, traffic crash reports, and all law enforcement activity records according to Florida public records laws.

Walton County Sheriff's Office

The Walton County Sheriff's Office operates from 752 Triple G Road in DeFuniak Springs, the county seat. Call (850) 892-8111 for general inquiries and records requests. Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson oversees all law enforcement operations in Walton County, which includes popular beach communities along the Emerald Coast and rural inland areas.

This agency serves a diverse county that includes both year-round residents and seasonal tourist populations. Deputies patrol beaches, residential neighborhoods, and rural areas. They respond to calls ranging from tourist-related incidents to serious crimes. The Records Division maintains all reports filed by deputies and makes them available to the public under Florida law.

Walton County offers online records requests, making it easier to obtain police blotter information without visiting the office in person. You can submit requests through their website or call (850) 892-8111 to start the process by phone. Staff will guide you through the requirements and explain any fees before processing your request.

How to Request Police Blotter Records

Walton County provides several ways to request police blotter records. The sheriff's office accepts online records requests, which is convenient if you can't visit in person. Call (850) 892-8111 to request records by phone. You can also visit the office at 752 Triple G Road in DeFuniak Springs during business hours to submit a request in person.

When making a request, provide as much detail as possible about the incident. Include the date it occurred, location, names of people involved, and case numbers if you have them. Specific information helps staff locate records quickly and reduces the time needed to fulfill your request. The more details you provide, the lower your costs will be for staff search time.

Florida law requires government agencies to respond to public records requests promptly. The Walton County Sheriff's Office processes requests based on staff availability and the complexity of the search. Simple requests for a single incident report might be completed quickly. Larger searches involving multiple files or extensive date ranges take more time. Staff will inform you about expected timelines and costs before starting work.

Some records cannot be released to the public. Active criminal investigations remain confidential until cases close. Personal information like Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and home addresses of law enforcement officers gets redacted. Victim identities in certain crimes stay protected under Florida law. If your request includes exempt material, staff will explain what portions can and cannot be released.

Police Blotter Records Available

Walton County police blotter records include incident reports, arrest records, traffic crash reports, and criminal investigative files. Incident reports document all calls for service answered by sheriff's deputies. These reports contain the date and time of the incident, location, people involved, witness statements, what happened, and the deputy's actions and observations.

Arrest records show booking information for people taken into custody in Walton County. These records include the person's name, age, address, mugshot, charges, arresting deputy, booking date and time, and bond amount. All booking information becomes public once the arrest is processed through the jail intake system. You can request arrest records through the same process as other police blotter documents.

Traffic crash reports filed by Walton County deputies contain driver information, vehicle details, crash diagrams, road and weather conditions, and contributing factors. Under Florida Statute 316.066, crash reports involving personal injuries remain confidential for 60 days after filing. During this period, only crash participants, their attorneys, insurers, and certain government agencies can access the reports. After the confidentiality period ends, anyone can purchase crash reports through the Florida Crash Portal at services.flhsmv.gov/CrashReportPurchasing for $10 plus a $2 convenience fee.

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

Note: Records related to active investigations may be partially or fully exempt from disclosure until cases close.

Public Records Fees

Walton County follows Florida's standard fee structure for public records. The first 15 minutes of staff time is free. The first 20 pages of copies cost nothing. Requests that exceed these limits are charged for additional staff time and materials.

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

For large requests, the sheriff's office will estimate the total cost before starting work. You can choose to proceed with the full request, narrow it to reduce costs, or cancel it entirely. Payment is required before records are released. The office accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards. Ask about electronic delivery, which may reduce or eliminate copy fees while providing faster access to records.

Florida Public Records Law

All police blotter records in Walton County are subject to Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, which establishes broad public access to government records. This law gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records unless a specific exemption applies. Government agencies must respond to requests promptly and in good faith.

Certain records are exempt from public disclosure. Florida Statutes Section 119.071 lists categories of exempt records. Active criminal intelligence and investigative information stays confidential until cases close or become inactive. Personal financial information like bank account numbers gets redacted. Medical records remain protected under state and federal law. Home addresses and personal phone numbers of law enforcement personnel are exempt from public records.

When records contain both public and exempt information, the Walton County Sheriff's Office must provide the public portions while redacting the exempt parts. You cannot be charged for the time spent redacting exempt material. The agency should cite the specific legal exemption for anything withheld from your request.

Florida's public records law makes government operations transparent to citizens. It applies to all levels of government and covers nearly all documents created or received by public agencies. The law includes strong protections for public access while balancing privacy concerns and law enforcement needs.

Additional Florida Resources

Several state agencies maintain databases that supplement county police blotter records. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers criminal background checks at fdle.state.fl.us. These statewide checks show arrests and charges from all Florida counties, not just Walton County. Full criminal history records require fingerprints and proper authorization.

The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department runs the official crash report system. Visit flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports to purchase crash reports from anywhere in the state. The portal accepts credit cards and provides electronic delivery of reports. You can also view crash statistics and highway safety data for roads throughout Florida.

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

Nearby Counties

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