Deland-police-department-records stay at the center of how people see what the local law team does every day. These files include every report written by officers when they respond to calls in the city. People search for these papers to check on car crashes, thefts, or other events in their neighborhoods. Chief Jason D. Umberger leads the team that keeps these files safe and ready for the public. The main office for these papers sits at 219 West Howry Avenue in DeLand, Florida. People can go there to ask for copies of files from Monday to Friday. The office opens at 8 AM and stays open until 5 PM. If you need to call the team that handles these papers, their number is (386) 740-6842.
How to Request Deland Police Department Records
Asking for Deland-police-department-records is a right for everyone in Florida. The state has a law called the Sunshine Law. This law says that most city papers must be open for people to look at. You do not need a special reason to ask for these files. You can walk into the lobby at 219 West Howry Avenue and tell the clerk what you need. You can also send a letter through the mail to the same address. Some people choose to call the records desk first to see if the file is ready. The desk team will tell you if the report is done. Officers need time to finish their notes after a call. This can take a few days.
When you ask for files, try to give the case number. This case number helps the clerk locate the right paper quickly. If you do not have the number, give the date and time of the event. Tell them the names of the people involved. Give the exact spot where the event happened. These details help the staff search the computer system. The city keeps these files for at least seven years. Some big files stay in the system forever. You can get paper copies or ask for the files to be sent to your email as a PDF file.
Types of Deland Police Department Records Available
Many different types of Deland-police-department-records exist for the public to see. One common type is the arrest report. This paper shows why the law team took someone to jail. It lists the name of the person and the charges against them. It also shows the date and the spot of the arrest. Another common type is the incident narrative. This is a story written by the officer. It explains what they saw and what people told them. These stories help people know the details of a crime or a dispute.
Traffic crash reports are also very popular. Drivers need these papers for their car insurance companies. The report shows a map of the crash and who was at fault. It lists the damage to the cars and if anyone got hurt. You can also ask for 911 call recordings. These are audio files of the phone calls made to the emergency center. Body camera videos are another type of record. Officers wear cameras on their shirts. These cameras record everything they see and hear. These videos are part of the public file, but some parts might be hidden to protect privacy.
Fees and Costs for Deland Police Department Records
Getting copies of Deland-police-department-records usually costs a small amount of money. The city follows the rules set by the state of Florida for these costs. For a single-sided page of paper, the cost is 15 cents. If the paper has writing on both sides, the cost is 20 cents. These small fees pay for the paper and the ink used to print the files. If you want a certified copy, it costs one dollar per page. A certified copy has a special stamp that proves it is a real file from the city. This is often needed for court or for official bank business.
Sometimes a request takes a long time for the staff to finish. If a clerk spends more than 30 minutes searching for your files, the city may charge a labor fee. This fee is based on how much the clerk earns per hour. This happens if you ask for thousands of pages or many hours of video. For video files like body camera footage, there is a cost for the disk or the thumb drive. The staff will tell you the total cost before they start the work. You can pay with cash, a check, or a credit card at the window.
Online Tools for Deland Police Department Records
The city uses digital tools to help people get Deland-police-department-records faster. One main tool is called CRIMEWATCH. This website shows a map of the city with icons for different crimes. You can click on an icon to see the date and the type of event. This tool is free for everyone to use. It helps neighbors stay aware of what is happening on their streets. You can sign up for alerts on your phone. These alerts tell you when a crime happens near your home. This makes the city safer for families.
The Volusia County Sheriff also has a website that shares data with DeLand. On that site, you can search for mugshots. Mugshots are photos taken of people when they go to jail. You can search by name or by the day they were arrested. This system shows who is currently in the county jail. The city of DeLand also has an open data portal. This portal lets researchers download spreadsheets of crime stats. These numbers show if crime is going up or down in the city over many years. Using these tools saves you a trip to the police station.
Florida Laws and Deland Police Department Records
Florida Statute 119 is the main law for Deland-police-department-records. This law is very strong. It says that transparency is the goal for all government offices. Most things written or recorded by the law team are public. This includes emails, texts on work phones, and paper notes. The law protects the public by letting them see how the city spends tax money. It also lets people watch how officers treat others. If the city denies a request for a record, they must say which part of the law lets them keep it secret.
Another law is Florida Statute 934.03. This rule talks about recording sounds and voices. It sets the rules for how 911 calls and radio traffic are kept. The city must keep these records for a set number of years. They cannot just delete them when they feel like it. This ensures that if a problem happens later, the files are still there to check. Lawyers often use these laws to get data for trials. The laws make sure that the system is fair for everyone. No one is above the rules when it comes to keeping honest files.
Privacy and Redactions in Records
While most Deland-police-department-records are public, some details stay hidden. This is called redaction. Redaction means the clerk puts a black box over certain words or numbers. This is done to protect people. For example, social security numbers are always hidden. Home addresses of officers are also kept private. If a victim of a crime is a child, their name will be blacked out. This keeps the child safe from people who might want to hurt them or bother them.
The law called Marsy’s Law also protects victims in Florida. If a victim asks for privacy, the law team must hide their name in the public files. This helps victims feel safe when they report crimes. Medical data is also hidden. If a report talks about someone’s health or a doctor’s visit, that part is removed. The clerk must be careful to only hide what the law says they can. They cannot hide facts just because the facts make the city look bad. Transparency is still the most important part of the job.
Crime Statistics and Trends in DeLand
Looking at Deland-police-department-records helps people see crime trends. The city tracks every arrest and every report to make a yearly summary. In past years, the city saw a drop in property crimes like theft and burglary. This happened as the law team worked more with the community. Violent crime rates are also tracked closely. The city compares its numbers to other cities in Volusia County. This data helps the city council decide how many officers to hire each year.
The 2020 public safety plan used this data to make new goals. One goal was to respond to calls faster. Another goal was to use more technology to solve crimes. By looking at the maps on CRIMEWATCH, the team can see “hot spots.” These are areas where crimes happen more often. They send more patrols to those spots to stop crimes before they start. Residents can look at these same stats to help their neighborhood watch groups. Data shows that active neighbors lead to less crime on a street.
The Role of the City Clerk
The City Clerk is the person who manages all public files, including some Deland-police-department-records. While the police station has its own records room, the City Clerk’s office handles big requests. If you want years of data or files from many different departments, you go to the Clerk. The Clerk’s office is at 214 South Georgia Avenue. They work with the law team to gather all the papers you need. They make sure the city follows all state rules for public files.
The City Clerk also keeps the minutes for city meetings. If the police chief speaks at a meeting about new rules, the Clerk writes it down. These notes are also part of the public files. You can read them to see what the chief said about the budget or new gear for officers. The Clerk’s office helps keep the whole city government open. They act as a bridge between the people and the city leaders. If you are not sure where to start your search, the Clerk can point you in the right direction.
Background Checks and Employment Records
Many people use Deland-police-department-records for background checks. Local businesses check these files before they hire a new worker. They want to see if the person has a criminal record in the city. You can ask for a local background check for yourself or for someone else. This check only shows crimes that happened in DeLand. If you need a check for the whole state, you must contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. They have a system that looks at every city and county at once.
Landlords also use these files to check on new renters. They want to make sure the person is a good neighbor. The records room can give a letter that shows if a person has had any trouble with the law in DeLand. This letter is a common part of moving into a new apartment. It costs a small fee to get this check done. Most of the time, the clerk can finish this while you wait in the lobby. It is a quick way to get the proof you need for a job or a home.
Body Camera Footage and Digital Evidence
Digital files are a big part of Deland-police-department-records today. Every officer carries a camera. These cameras show exactly what happens during a traffic stop or an arrest. These videos are very helpful if there is a dispute about what happened. A person can ask to see the video of their own interaction with the law team. The city keeps these videos on a secure server. They are not easy to change or delete. This makes the videos very good evidence in court.
Because these videos show people’s faces and inside their homes, the city must be careful. Clerks use special software to blur faces of people who are not involved in the crime. They also blur things like house numbers or pictures on a wall if the law requires it. Asking for video can take more time than asking for paper. The staff must watch the whole video to make sure they follow privacy rules. Even so, these videos are a key part of keeping the law team honest and the public informed.
Traffic Reports and Accident Data
If you are in a car crash, the Deland-police-department-records you need most are traffic reports. These reports are created by the officer at the scene. They write down the weather, the road state, and what the drivers said. They also draw a diagram of how the cars hit each other. This report is used by insurance companies to pay for car repairs. In Florida, you can get a copy of your own crash report very quickly. You usually do not have to wait for weeks.
The city also tracks where crashes happen most. They use this data to make roads safer. If a certain corner has many crashes, the city might add a stop sign or a traffic light. They might also lower the speed limit in that area. By looking at these records, the city can save lives. Residents can also look at this data to see which roads are the safest for their kids to bike on. It is another way that public files help the whole community stay safe and healthy.
Meeting the Records Division Team
The staff at the records division are experts in Deland-police-department-records. They go through training to learn all the complex state laws. Their goal is to help you get what you need without a long wait. When you visit the office, you will talk to a clerk through a window. They are friendly and ready to answer questions. They cannot give legal advice, but they can explain how to fill out the request forms. They take pride in keeping the city’s history organized and easy to search.
These workers handle thousands of papers every year. They file reports, scan old documents, and answer phone calls. They also work with the court system to send files for trials. Without this team, the police department would not be able to function. They make sure the right data gets to the right people at the right time. If you have a complex request, they will work with you to narrow it down. This saves you money on fees and saves them time on searching.
Sealed and Expunged Records
Sometimes Deland-police-department-records are removed from the public view. This is called sealing or expunging. This happens if a judge signs an order to hide a record. Usually, this is for people who were arrested but never found guilty. It can also happen for first-time offenders who finish a special program. Once a record is expunged, the city must destroy the file or hide it so well that no one can see it. In the eyes of the law, the event never happened.
If you want to seal your own record, you have to go through a legal process. You start with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. If they approve, you then go to a judge in Volusia County. If the judge says yes, they send the order to the DeLand police. The records team then takes the file out of the public search. This helps people get jobs or housing without an old mistake following them forever. It is an important part of the legal system that offers people a second chance.
Historical Records and Archives
The city of DeLand has a long history, and so do the Deland-police-department-records. Some files go back many decades. These old files show how the city has changed. They show old street names and how the law team used to work before computers. Researchers and historians often look at these files to learn about the past. The city keeps these archives in a safe, dry place to prevent damage. While newer files are digital, many old ones are still on paper or microfilm.
You can ask to see these historical files just like new ones. It might take longer to find them if they are in storage. These records tell the story of the city’s growth. They show the challenges the city faced in the past and how they were solved. Keeping these files is a service to the future. It ensures that the story of DeLand is never lost. Whether it is a big case from the 1950s or a simple report from last year, every file is a piece of the city’s puzzle.
DeLand Police Department Location and Contact
The main station is easy to find in the downtown area. It is near other city buildings and local shops. There is parking for the public in front of the building. You can walk in during business hours without an appointment. If you are coming from out of town, the station is not far from the main highway.
Address: 219 West Howry Avenue, DeLand, FL 32720
Main Phone: (386) 626-7400
Records Phone: (386) 740-6842
Fax Number: (386) 740-6842
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Emergency: Call 9-1-1
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a copy of a report?
Most of the time, the records team can give you a report in just a few minutes if you walk into the office. However, if the report is very new, it might not be ready yet. Officers usually need two to five days to finish their paperwork and have it checked by a supervisor. If you are asking for a lot of files or a long video, it could take ten business days or more. The city clerk will tell you an estimate when you make your request. They try to work as fast as they can to get the data to you.
Can I get a report for free?
You can look at the records for free if you do not need a copy to take home. The law says you can sit in the office and read the papers without paying. If you want to take the papers with you or have them emailed, you usually have to pay the small per-page fee. Some simple data can be found for free on the CRIMEWATCH website or the city’s crime map. If you are a victim of a crime, sometimes the city will give you one copy of your report for free. You should ask the clerk about this when you visit the window.
What if the record I want is not found?
If the clerk cannot find the file, they will ask for more details. Sometimes a report is filed under a different name or a slightly different date. If they still cannot find it, it might be because the event happened outside the city limits. If the Volusia Sheriff or the Florida Highway Patrol handled the call, the DeLand police will not have the record. You would need to contact those offices instead. The clerk will try to help you figure out which agency has the papers you are searching for.
Can I ask for records without giving my name?
Yes, you can make an anonymous request for public files in Florida. You do not have to show an ID or tell the clerk who you are. However, if you want the files emailed to you, you will need to give an email address. If you want them mailed, you will need to give a mailing address. Many people choose to walk in and pay with cash so they do not have to leave any personal data. The city respects your right to see the files without asking you questions about why you want them.
Are 911 calls part of the public records?
Yes, 911 calls are public records in the state of Florida. You can ask for a digital audio file of any call made to the dispatch center. These calls can be very powerful to hear. They show exactly what was said during an emergency. Some parts of the audio might be silenced if the caller gives private medical data or if a child is speaking. The records team listens to the whole call before they release it to make sure it follows the privacy rules. You will usually receive these files on a CD or via a download link.
Why are some parts of my report blacked out?
When you see black marks on a report, it means that data is exempt from the public law. This is done to keep people safe. Common things that are blacked out include bank account numbers, home phone numbers of police officers, and the names of undercover agents. If the report is about an active investigation that is still going on, the law team can hide parts of it so the criminal does not find out what they know. Once the case is closed, more of the report might become open for you to see.
Can I get records about a neighbor’s arrest?
Yes, you can see records about any arrest that happens in the city. Arrests are public events. You can see the person’s name, the charges, and the narrative of what happened. You can also see the mugshot taken at the jail. This data is often used by neighborhood groups to stay informed about safety. You do not need to be related to the person or have their permission to see the arrest report. As long as the record is not sealed by a judge, it is open for every citizen to look at and copy.
How do I correct a mistake in a police record?
If you see a mistake in a report, you should contact the officer who wrote it. You can call the non-emergency line and ask to speak with them. If the mistake is small, like a misspelled name, they can usually fix it quickly. If the mistake is about the facts of the case, you might need to provide proof of the error. The officer can then write a supplemental report to add the correct data. The original report usually stays the same, but the new notes will be attached to it for everyone to see.