Wheeler County Police Records

Wheeler County police records are managed by the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office in Alamo, Georgia. Sheriff Glenn Giles leads the department, which handles incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other law enforcement documents for the county. The records division processes open records requests for the public under the Georgia Open Records Act. Wheeler County is a small rural county in south central Georgia, and the sheriff's office is the primary custodian of all police records for the area.

Wheeler County Sheriff's Office

The Wheeler County Sheriff's Office is located at 21 West Forest Avenue, Alamo, GA 30411. The phone number is (912) 568-7107. Sheriff Glenn Giles oversees the department. The office is open on weekdays during regular business hours for records requests and other services.

All police records for Wheeler County are housed at this office. Incident reports, arrest bookings, crash reports, and supplemental files are maintained by the sheriff's staff. Because Wheeler County is small, the sheriff's office is the only law enforcement agency for most of the county. The town of Alamo may have its own police presence, but the sheriff's office handles the vast majority of calls and records.

When you need a police report from Wheeler County, contact the sheriff's office with the date, location, and type of incident. A case number speeds things up if you have one. The staff can look up your record and tell you the cost and timeline for getting copies.

The Georgia EPORTS system is an online portal for accident reports from state patrol troopers who respond to crashes in Wheeler County.

You can search EPORTS by date and county to find crash reports. State patrol reports from Wheeler County are usually available within a few business days of the incident.

Police Records Fees

Wheeler County uses the standard fee schedule set by Georgia law. Copies are $0.10 per page. Accident reports cost $5 for parties to the crash. The first 15 minutes of research time are free under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. After that, the charge is based on the hourly rate of the person doing the work.

If the total cost is expected to exceed $25, the office will give you an estimate first. You can accept the cost or scale back your request. Most simple requests for a single report cost just a few dollars. The fees are the same whether you get the records by mail or in person.

Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order. Make checks out to the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office. Card payments may not be available at small county offices, so call ahead to check. In person payments during office hours are straightforward.

Note: There is no fee to view records in person. You only pay for copies you take with you.

Requesting Wheeler County Records

You can request records from the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office by mail, phone, or in person. Written requests are the most reliable method. Include your name, contact info, and the details of the records you want. Mail your request to 21 West Forest Avenue, Alamo, GA 30411.

Call (912) 568-7107 for phone requests. Give the staff the date and location of the incident, and any names or case numbers you have. They can confirm the record is on file and tell you what it costs. In person visits during business hours let you speak with someone directly.

Under Georgia law, the office has three business days to respond. The response can be the records, a cost estimate, or a timeline. Simple requests for a single report often get turned around quicker. Complex requests that cover multiple files or date ranges take more time.

Open Records Rights in Wheeler County

The Georgia Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records from Wheeler County agencies. You do not have to be a resident. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The law applies to police reports, arrest records, crash reports, and other documents held by the sheriff's office.

Initial incident reports and initial arrest reports are always public. This rule holds even while a case is under investigation. The full case file becomes public when all related court cases are finished. Some records are exempt from disclosure. Records that could put someone at risk or reveal a confidential informant may be withheld. But the law leans toward release, and Wheeler County follows the same rules as every other Georgia county.

If the sheriff's office denies your request, they must explain why in writing and cite the specific law. You can take the matter to Wheeler County Superior Court if you believe the records should be public. The court can order the records released.

Wheeler County Crash Reports

Accident reports from Wheeler County depend on which agency handled the crash. Sheriff's deputies cover most of the county. Georgia State Patrol covers some highways. For sheriff's office reports, call (912) 568-7107 or mail your request. For state patrol reports, use the EPORTS portal.

The cost is $5 for a crash report from either source. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, people who were not involved in the crash may need to provide a written statement of need. Parties to the accident get the report without this extra step. If you are not sure which agency responded, call the sheriff's office and they can check.

Reports take a few days to get into the system. If you cannot find yours right away, wait about a week and try again. The records staff can tell you when the report should be ready.

Court Records and Criminal History

Criminal court records for Wheeler County are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court. These include case filings, charges, pleas, and sentences. They are different from police reports. Police records cover what happened in the field. Court records cover what happened after charges were filed.

For a statewide criminal history, contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI maintains the state criminal database. A local search through the Wheeler County clerk only shows cases filed in that specific court. If you need records from both the sheriff and the court, make two separate requests.

Note: Wheeler County is a small county, so the court handles a limited number of cases each year compared to larger jurisdictions.

Nearby Counties

If you need police records from areas around Wheeler County, check these neighboring counties.