Search Pierce County Police Records
Pierce County police records are maintained by the Pierce County Sheriff's Office in Blackshear, Georgia. Sheriff Ramsey Bennett oversees the department, which provides law enforcement services across the county. The sheriff's office keeps incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and other law enforcement documents. Blackshear has a small police department that handles incidents within city limits and keeps its own records. Patterson also has a police department. For most police records from Pierce County, the sheriff's office in Blackshear is the place to start your search.
Pierce County Police Records Facts
Pierce County Sheriff's Office
The Pierce County Sheriff's Office is at 300 Pierce Industrial Blvd, Blackshear, GA 31516. Call (912) 449-2101 to reach the office. Sheriff Ramsey Bennett leads the department. The sheriff's office is the main law enforcement agency for Pierce County and handles patrol, investigations, jail operations, and records. The administrative staff processes all open records requests for files created by deputies.
To request police records, visit the office, call, or submit a written request by mail. A written request is the best approach because it documents exactly what you asked for. When you make your request, include the date of the incident, names of the people involved, the location where it happened, and the type of record you need. Having a case number makes the search much easier for the staff. Pierce County is a rural county with a smaller population, and the records division typically processes requests without a long wait. A straightforward request for one incident report can sometimes be ready the same day if you visit in person.
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association maintains a directory with contact information for Sheriff Bennett's office and all other county sheriffs in Georgia.
The directory is a quick way to verify the address and phone number for the Pierce County Sheriff's Office before submitting your request.
| Address | 300 Pierce Industrial Blvd, Blackshear, GA 31516 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (912) 449-2101 |
| Sheriff | Ramsey Bennett |
Open Records Law in Pierce County
The Georgia Open Records Act gives you the right to access police records from Pierce County agencies. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, public records must be available for inspection and copying. This covers police reports, arrest records, booking photos, dispatch logs, citations, and crash reports. The law applies to everyone. You do not need to be a Pierce County resident. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
Agencies have three business days to respond under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. In a smaller county like Pierce, you may get a response faster than that. Walk-in requests for a single report are sometimes handled on the spot. The three-day rule is the outer limit for the first response, not the floor. The agency just has to acknowledge your request, tell you what records they have, and give you a cost estimate. The actual delivery of the records can take longer for complex requests.
Copy fees are $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, agencies charge the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the request. If the estimated cost exceeds $25, the agency will tell you before they begin the work. You then decide whether to proceed or narrow your request. These rules protect you from unexpected charges and apply to every agency in Pierce County.
Note: Keep a copy of any written request you send for your own files, in case there is a dispute about what was requested or when.
Pierce County Incident Reports
Incident reports are the most basic type of police record in Pierce County. Any time a deputy responds to a call and takes action, an incident report gets written. These cover a wide range of events: thefts, break-ins, assaults, domestic calls, trespassing, property damage, and more. The report includes a case number, the date and time of the event, the location, names of people involved, and a narrative from the responding deputy describing what happened.
Georgia law says initial incident reports are always public. This is a core feature of the Open Records Act that applies in Pierce County just like everywhere else in the state. Even if the case is still under investigation, you can get the initial report. The investigation file, which includes detective notes and follow-up work, may be held back under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 while the case is active. But the first report is always available from the day it is filed. This matters for crime victims who need documentation for insurance or personal records, and for anyone else who has a legitimate interest in knowing what happened.
The Blackshear Police Department and Patterson Police Department maintain their own incident reports for events within their city limits. If a city officer took the report, you need to contact that department directly.
Crash Reports in Pierce County
Traffic crash reports from Pierce County are available from the investigating agency. If a Pierce County deputy worked the crash, contact the sheriff's office. The fee for a crash report is usually $5. For Georgia State Patrol crash reports, use the EPORTS portal at eports.gamccd.net. State Patrol reports also cost $5 and take about three business days.
You can check BuyCrash.com to see if the report is available online. BuyCrash is a LexisNexis service that some Georgia agencies use to make crash reports downloadable. Pierce County has several state routes running through it, and the Georgia State Patrol often handles crashes on those roads. If you are unsure which agency investigated your crash, call the Pierce County Sheriff's Office and ask them to check the dispatch log.
People who were involved in the crash can get their report right away. Third parties not involved in the crash may need to submit a written statement explaining their reason for requesting the report. Insurance companies and attorneys handling the case can access the report as part of their work.
Background Checks for Pierce County
The Pierce County Sheriff's Office can run local background checks using their arrest and booking records. This shows you criminal activity within Pierce County. For a broader search, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation operates the Georgia Crime Information Center, which holds data from all 159 counties. A GBI statewide check costs around $15 to $20 and gives a much more complete picture of a person's criminal history in Georgia.
Court records from the Pierce County Clerk of Superior Court add another layer of detail. Court records include case filings, charges, dispositions, and sentencing information. Police records show the arrest. Court records show the court proceedings that follow. Together, they tell the full story from the initial arrest through the final outcome. The clerk's office is at the Pierce County Courthouse in Blackshear. Some court data may also be accessible through the Georgia courts website.
What Pierce County Records Are Public
Most police records from Pierce County agencies are open to the public. Available records include initial incident reports, initial arrest reports, booking records and mug shots, 911 call records, citations, and crash reports. Internal affairs records become public 10 days after filing. Crime lab reports from closed cases are also available.
Certain details are redacted before records are released. Social Security numbers are always removed. The day and month of birth dates may be taken out. Law enforcement officers' home addresses and phone numbers can be withheld. Medical records and financial account data are also redacted. These protections apply across the board in Georgia. Despite these redactions, the substance of the police record, including names, charges, dates, locations, and the deputy's narrative, is included in the version you receive.
Nearby Counties
For police records from counties near Pierce County, check these links.