Washington County Police Blotter

Washington County police blotter records are maintained by the Washington County Sheriff's Office at 1293 Jackson Avenue in Chipley. Sheriff Kevin Crews oversees the department, which provides law enforcement services throughout this rural Panhandle county. The sheriff's office processes all public records requests for incident reports, arrest logs, traffic crash reports, and daily law enforcement activities. Call (850) 638-6111 to request police blotter information or visit the office in person during business hours to access records according to Florida's public records laws.

Washington County Sheriff's Office

The Washington County Sheriff's Office is located at 1293 Jackson Avenue in Chipley. Call (850) 638-6111 to reach the main office for general inquiries and records requests. Sheriff Kevin Crews leads the department and supervises all law enforcement operations in Washington County. Deputies patrol rural areas, respond to emergency calls, investigate crimes, and maintain public safety throughout the county.

This small rural agency handles all aspects of law enforcement in Washington County. Deputies file reports on every incident they respond to, from traffic stops to criminal investigations. The Records Division stores these reports and makes them available to the public under Florida law. Visit the office during business hours to submit a records request in person, or call to start the process by phone.

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 Washington County. These arrest records become part of the public police blotter and can be requested through the same process as incident reports.

Requesting Police Blotter Records

Request police blotter records from the Washington County Sheriff's Office by calling (850) 638-6111 or visiting 1293 Jackson Avenue in Chipley. Provide details about the incident you need. Include the date it happened, location, names of people involved, and case numbers if you have them. Specific information helps staff locate records quickly and reduces search time.

Florida law requires government agencies to respond to public records requests in good faith. The Washington County Sheriff's Office processes requests as staff time allows. Simple requests might be completed the same day. Larger searches that involve many files or extensive review take more time. Staff will inform you about expected timelines and any fees before they start work.

Some records have restricted access under state law. Active criminal investigations remain confidential until cases close or become inactive. Personal information like Social Security numbers and home addresses of law enforcement officers gets redacted. Victim identities in certain crimes stay protected. If your request includes exempt material, the sheriff's office will explain what can and cannot be released under Florida law.

In-person visits often result in faster service, especially for straightforward requests. Bring identification when you visit the office. Staff will help you fill out a records request form and search for the documents you need. They will calculate any fees before processing your request and let you know when records are ready for pickup.

What Police Blotter Records Include

Washington County police blotter records 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 Washington 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 Washington 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.

Note: Some police blotter information stays confidential to protect active investigations and personal privacy.

Fees for Police Records

Washington 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 Washington 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.

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 Washington 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

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