Chattahoochee County Police Records

Police records in Chattahoochee County are managed by the sheriff's office in Cusseta. This small county in west Georgia borders the Chattahoochee River and sits next to Fort Moore, which shapes much of the local law enforcement work. The sheriff's office fields reports for the full county and keeps files on incidents, arrests, and crashes that take place within its borders. Residents and the public can get copies of these records through the open records process under Georgia law. The county seat at Cusseta is where all requests are handled, and staff there can help you find the right report or file.

Chattahoochee County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Henry Lynch III runs the Chattahoochee County Sheriff's Office. The office is the sole county-level law enforcement agency here. All police records for unincorporated areas and the town of Cusseta go through this office. Staff handle everything from patrol to report filing to records requests. The mailing address is PO Box 124, Cusseta, GA 31805. You can also call them at (706) 989-3644 during business hours for questions about a report or to check on a pending request.

Chattahoochee County is one of the smaller counties in Georgia. The population is low, and the sheriff's office staff is small. That can work in your favor when you need a record. Fewer cases means files are often easier to find. Walk-in requests at the Cusseta office tend to get processed the same day if the report is ready and not part of an active case. Call ahead to confirm hours before you visit since small offices sometimes adjust their schedule.

The sheriff's office also works closely with military police at nearby Fort Moore. If an incident happened on the military post itself, the sheriff's office will not have the report. You would need to contact the military police for those records. But anything off-post within the county line falls under the sheriff.

How to Request Records in Chattahoochee County

Getting a police record from the Chattahoochee County Sheriff's Office starts with a request. Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives the public the right to inspect and copy records held by government agencies. That includes the sheriff's office. You do not need to give a reason for your request. You just need to describe what you want clearly enough for staff to find it. A date, a name, or a case number all help speed things up.

You can submit your request in person at the Cusseta office. You can also call or send a written request by mail. Written requests are always a good idea because they give you proof of when you asked and what you asked for. If the office is slow to respond, having that paper trail matters. Staff must respond within three business days under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. That response might be the records themselves, or it might be a timeline for when the records will be ready. Either way, you should hear something within that window.

Fees follow state law. Copies cost $0.10 per page for standard paper copies. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the office can charge based on the hourly pay of the lowest-paid employee who can do the work. If total fees will go past $25, staff must tell you before they proceed. You can then narrow your request or agree to the cost.

Note: Written requests give you a record of your submission date, which helps if you need to follow up or dispute a delayed response.

Types of Police Reports Available

The sheriff's office keeps several types of records on file. Incident reports cover calls for service like thefts, disturbances, and other crimes reported within the county. Arrest records show booking details, charges, and the date someone was taken into custody. Accident reports document vehicle crashes that happen on county roads or state routes running through Chattahoochee County. Each type has its own rules about what can and cannot be released to the public.

Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, some records have limits on what can be shared. Initial incident reports and initial arrest reports are always public. That is true even when a case is still being investigated. But the deeper investigation files tied to an active case can be held back until the case closes. The sheriff's office will tell you if any part of a record is exempt. Personal details like Social Security numbers and certain medical information are always blacked out before copies are handed over. Juvenile records are sealed under Georgia law and are not available to the public through a standard open records request.

Accident reports can be a bit different. If you were in the crash, you can get your own report without extra steps. If you were not involved, you may need to show a valid reason for wanting the report. Georgia law treats motor vehicle crash reports with extra care because of the personal details they contain.

Chattahoochee County State Resources

Some police records from Chattahoochee County can be found through state-level tools. The Georgia Department of Public Safety runs a system called EPORTS for crash reports filed by the Georgia State Patrol. If a state trooper handled an accident in the county, the report goes into that system instead of the sheriff's files. You can search for and buy crash reports through the EPORTS online portal. Reports from state troopers cost a flat fee and are available once the trooper finishes the paperwork.

The EPORTS portal is one of the main state tools for finding crash reports filed by Georgia State Patrol troopers across the state.

This system covers all Georgia State Patrol reports, so even a small county like Chattahoochee is included. Check here first if your crash involved a state trooper rather than a county deputy.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation may also hold records tied to serious crimes in Chattahoochee County. The GBI steps in at the request of local agencies for major cases. Their records are handled through a separate open records process on the GBI website. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory can help you confirm contact details for the Chattahoochee County Sheriff's Office if you need to double-check before sending a request.

Crash Reports in Chattahoochee County

Car crashes in the county are handled by whichever agency responds to the scene. If a Chattahoochee County deputy responds, the report stays with the sheriff's office. If a Georgia State Patrol trooper responds, the report goes to EPORTS. You can also use the BuyCrash portal to search for and purchase accident reports from agencies across Georgia. BuyCrash pulls from multiple sources and can be a quick way to get your report without calling around.

The timeline for a crash report to become available varies. It can take a few days to a couple of weeks. Deputies and troopers need time to complete the report after the scene is cleared. If the crash involved injuries or fatalities, the report may take longer because of the added detail required. You can call the sheriff's office at (706) 989-3644 to ask about the status of a specific report if you have the date and location of the crash.

Note: If a state trooper and a county deputy both responded to the same crash, the report is usually filed by the agency that took the lead on the investigation.

Getting Help With Your Request

If you run into trouble getting records from the Chattahoochee County Sheriff's Office, there are steps you can take. Start by following up with the office directly. A phone call to (706) 989-3644 can often clear up delays or confusion about a request. If the office denies your request, ask for the denial in writing along with the specific code section they are citing. Georgia law requires agencies to explain why records are being withheld.

You can also reach out to legal aid organizations in the area for help. The Georgia Legal Services Program covers this part of the state and can advise you on your rights under the Open Records Act. For more serious disputes, the law allows you to take the matter to court. A judge can order the records released if the agency does not have a valid reason for the denial. If the court rules in your favor, the agency may have to pay your legal costs. Most issues get resolved before that point with a clear, polite follow-up.

Nearby County Police Records

Chattahoochee County shares borders with several other counties in west Georgia. If an incident took place near a county line, the report may be on file with a neighboring sheriff's office. Check with the right agency to find the record you need.