Access Dade County Police Blotter

Dade County police blotter records are maintained by the sheriff's office in Trenton, Georgia, in the far northwest corner of the state. Sheriff Ray Cross leads the Dade County Sheriff's Office, the primary law enforcement agency for this small county of about 16,000 residents. If you want to search for police blotter entries, look up an arrest, or request an incident report in Dade County, you can contact the sheriff's office or use state-level online tools. Georgia's Open Records Act gives you the legal right to access these files, and the process is straightforward regardless of where you live.

Dade County Police Blotter Office

The Dade County Sheriff's Office is the main source for police blotter records in this area. Sheriff Ray Cross runs the office from PO Box 920 in Trenton. The phone number is (706) 657-3577. Deputies handle patrol duties across Dade County and respond to calls in the unincorporated areas. The office also runs the county jail, so all booking records are maintained here.

Dade County sits on the Tennessee border with Lookout Mountain forming its eastern edge. The county is geographically isolated from the rest of Georgia, connected only through a narrow strip of land at its southeast corner. This means most law enforcement activity is handled locally by the sheriff's office. The Trenton Police Department covers the city, but the sheriff handles the rest of Dade County. To request a police blotter record, call (706) 657-3577 or visit the office during business hours. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, these records are public.

Dade County Police Blotter Records

Georgia's Open Records Act covers police blotter records in Dade County. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 sets the rules. The sheriff's office has three business days to respond. Copies cost up to 10 cents per page. The first quarter hour of staff time is free. Anyone can request records. You do not need to live in Dade County or give a reason for your request.

Some records are exempt. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, files tied to an active investigation in Dade County can be withheld. This protects ongoing cases from being compromised. Confidential informant identities also stay hidden. But the basic police blotter entry, the initial report of what took place, is public in almost every situation. Dade County is small, so requests tend to get processed quickly. Put yours in writing for the best results.

State Patrol Police Blotter in Dade County

State troopers file their own police blotter records for incidents on highways in Dade County. Interstate 59 passes through the county, and state roads carry traffic to and from the Tennessee border. These reports go through the Georgia Department of Public Safety, not the local sheriff.

The EPORTS online system lets you request copies of state patrol reports. Crash reports cost $5.00. Incident reports are $2.00. The first citation is free. Reports are usually available within three to five business days. For highway incidents in Dade County, EPORTS saves you a trip to any government office. Submit the request online, get notified by email, pay, and download the report.

State patrol records and Dade County sheriff records are maintained separately. Each agency files its own report.

GBI Crime Data for Dade County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation collects crime data from Dade County law enforcement and provides investigative help when local resources are not enough. You can file a records request through the GBI Records Request Center for any case the GBI handled in the county.

Criminal history searches fall under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34. Consent is required unless you are searching Georgia felony convictions only. The Georgia Sex Offender Registry is free and covers Dade County. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search shows state inmates after a Dade County conviction. Tips go through the GBI online tip form.

Note: Because Dade County borders Tennessee, some cross-state incidents may involve agencies from both states.

Dade County Record Fees

Fees for police blotter records in Dade County follow the state framework. Standard copies cost up to 10 cents per page. Certified copies add $2.00. The DPS fee schedule shows what agencies can charge statewide.

Through EPORTS, state patrol crash reports from Dade County cost $5.00 and incident reports cost $2.00. The Dade County Sheriff's Office may have its own rates for local police blotter records. Call (706) 657-3577 to confirm costs before you make a request. The first 15 minutes of staff time are always free at any Georgia agency.

Reading Dade County Police Reports

A police blotter entry from Dade County includes the date, time, and location. It describes the incident and names the people involved. Arrest entries show charges and the arresting officer. Each report gets a case number linking all related documents for that Dade County event.

Redaction happens before reports go to the public. Phone numbers, the day and month of birth, and medical information are removed from Dade County police reports under state law. The year of birth stays. This protects privacy while keeping the facts accessible. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory can help verify the Dade County Sheriff's Office details before you submit a request.

Report crime information anonymously through the GBI tip form for cases in Dade County or anywhere in Georgia.

Nearby Counties

Dade County sits at the northwest tip of Georgia. Only Walker County borders it to the south and east. For incidents near the county line, check with both agencies.