Search Cobb County Police Records

Police records in Cobb County are maintained by the Cobb County Police Department, the sheriff's office, and several municipal police departments across this large suburban county northwest of Atlanta. With a population over 750,000, Cobb County is one of the most populated counties in Georgia, and it generates a high volume of police records each year. The county police department handles patrol for unincorporated areas, while cities like Marietta, Kennesaw, Smyrna, and Mableton have their own departments. Getting the right record means knowing which agency responded to the incident, and this page breaks down how to find and request records from Cobb County agencies.

Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Craig Owens leads the Cobb County Sheriff's Office. The main office is at 185 Roswell Street in Marietta, GA 30090. You can reach them at (770) 499-4611. The sheriff's office handles the county jail, courthouse security, and civil process. Booking records and inmate information are managed through this office. If you need to check on someone who was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, the sheriff's office is the right contact.

The Cobb County Police Department is a separate agency from the sheriff's office. The police department handles daily patrol, investigations, and traffic enforcement in unincorporated parts of the county. Most incident reports, arrest reports from field arrests, and accident reports are generated by the police department. If you need one of those records, you will likely need to contact the police department rather than the sheriff's office. This is a common setup in large Georgia counties but it can trip people up. When you are not sure which agency has what you need, call the sheriff's office and they can point you the right way.

Cobb County is one of the biggest counties in the metro Atlanta area. The I-75 corridor, I-285 loop, and dozens of busy surface streets run through the county. That means a lot of traffic accidents and a lot of reports. The county also has major commercial and residential areas that generate calls for service every day.

How to Request Cobb County Records

The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives you the right to inspect and copy police records from any government agency in the state. That covers the Cobb County Sheriff's Office, the Cobb County Police Department, and the city police departments within the county. You do not have to explain your reasons. Just provide enough detail for staff to find the records. A case number, date, name, or address will help.

You can request records in person, by email, by phone, or by mail. Written requests are best because they create a clear record of your submission. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71, the agency must respond within three business days. The response might be the records, a cost estimate, or a timeline. In a high-volume county like Cobb, simple requests are often turned around quickly. But requests that cover a broad date range or involve multiple incidents may take more time.

The Cobb County Police Department has a records division that handles public requests regularly. Walk-ins can visit during business hours. If you know the report number, staff can usually pull it fast. For more involved requests, be ready to wait a few days. The staff will keep you updated on progress once they have your request on file.

Note: Cobb County processes a large number of records requests, so submitting a detailed and specific request will help staff find your records faster.

Cobb County Records Fees

Fees follow state law. Copies are $0.10 per page. The first quarter hour of search time is free. After that, the agency can charge based on the hourly wage of the lowest-paid employee who can do the work. If total fees will go past $25, the agency must tell you before proceeding. You can agree, narrow your request, or cancel.

Inspecting records in person is free. You can go to the records division, look at the files, and then decide which pages you want copied. This keeps costs down when you are dealing with a large file and only need a few specific pages. There is no charge for the inspection, only for copies and extended staff time. Bring a photo ID when you visit.

Types of Police Reports in Cobb County

Cobb County agencies keep several types of records. Incident reports cover crimes, disturbances, and other events that officers respond to. They document the date, time, location, involved parties, and a description of what happened. Arrest records show who was taken into custody, charges filed, and booking information. Accident reports cover vehicle crashes. Booking records from the county jail are held by the sheriff's office and track intake details for people who were jailed.

Georgia law under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 determines what is public and what can be withheld. Initial incident reports and initial arrest reports are always open to the public, even during active investigations. But detailed investigation notes and files tied to an open case can be held back until the case concludes. Social Security numbers, medical records, and certain personal details are always redacted before copies go out. Juvenile records are sealed and not accessible through a regular open records request.

For crash reports, the rules depend on your connection to the accident. If you were in the crash, you can get your report easily. Third parties may need to show a valid reason for wanting the report. Georgia law provides extra privacy for motor vehicle crash reports because of the insurance and personal data they contain. Staff will walk you through the process if you need a crash report as someone not involved in the accident.

State Resources for Cobb County

State-level systems hold some police records from Cobb County. The EPORTS system from the Georgia Department of Public Safety stores crash reports filed by Georgia State Patrol troopers. If a trooper responded to a crash on I-75, I-285, or any state route in Cobb County, the report is in EPORTS. You can search and buy reports online for a flat fee.

The state EPORTS portal covers all Georgia State Patrol crash reports statewide, including those from Cobb County's busy highway network.

Given the amount of highway traffic in Cobb County, a good number of crash reports are filed by state troopers and end up in EPORTS rather than with the county police.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation may hold records for major cases where the GBI helped Cobb County agencies. The GBI has its own open records process on their website. The BuyCrash portal lets you search for crash reports from many different agencies in one place. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association website has a directory for confirming current contact information for the Cobb County Sheriff's Office.

Cities in Cobb County

Cobb County has several cities with their own police departments. If the incident happened within a city's limits, that city's police department probably holds the report. Always confirm which agency responded before submitting a records request.

• Marietta is the county seat and has its own police department handling calls inside city limits.
• Kennesaw has a police department that manages records for incidents within the city.
• Smyrna has its own police force covering all law enforcement within the city.
• Mableton is a newer city in Cobb County with its own jurisdiction.

Other communities in Cobb County like Acworth, Austell, and Powder Springs also have police departments. Each one keeps its own records. For incidents in unincorporated areas, the Cobb County Police Department is the agency to contact. A phone call to the county non-emergency number can help you figure out which agency handled a specific call if you are unsure.

Nearby County Police Records

Cobb County borders several other counties in the northwest metro Atlanta area. Incidents near county lines may end up filed with a neighboring agency. Check with the right county to find the record you need.