Find Police Records in Lewes

Lewes police records are held by the Lewes Police Department, the city clerk, and the Sussex County offices that back up local law enforcement. You can search Lewes police records by filing a FOIA request with the department, by mailing the city clerk, or by checking state court tools. Most incident reports, crash reports, and arrest logs can be released. Ongoing case files and some personnel data stay closed. This page walks you through where to file, who to ask, and what to expect from each office that keeps Lewes police records.

Lewes Police Department Records

The Lewes Police Department is the main keeper of Lewes police records. The department serves the coastal town year round, and its records unit handles incident reports, accident reports, and arrest logs. Staff work out of the city complex and take FOIA requests by phone, mail, or in person. The department files follow state rules on release. Some are open to the public. Some stay closed. The city site at ci.lewes.de.us lists the phone line and the public hours for the department.

When you ask for a Lewes police record, give the full name of the person, the date of the event, the case number if you have it, and the address or block where it took place. The more info you give, the faster the search goes. Officers check the files, pull the report, and redact what state law bars from release. Investigatory files for open cases are one common hold. Personnel records are another. Most routine files, like a crash report or a past arrest, come back in full.

The city site shows the contact info for the police department, the city clerk, and the FOIA coordinator. It also links to city council pages, permits, and ordinances. For most Lewes police records, the site is the right first stop.

The Lewes Police Department works with the Sussex County Sheriff's Office, the Delaware State Police, and nearby town departments on larger cases. That means a record may sit with more than one agency. A single crash on Route 1 might be covered by both Lewes PD and DSP. You may need to file with each one. The 15 business day reply window set by 29 Del. C. § 10003 runs from the day each office gets the request.

Lewes City Clerk and FOIA

The City of Lewes runs on a Mayor-Council form of government. The City Clerk is the FOIA coordinator for all city files, including Lewes police records that sit outside the police department. The clerk also keeps city council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, permits, and licenses. City council meets on a set schedule, and the public can attend and speak. The clerk's office takes written FOIA requests by mail, email, or hand delivery.

To file a FOIA request with the clerk, write a short letter or email. List your name, address, email, and phone. Say what records you want. Be as clear as you can. A vague ask slows the search. The city must reply within 15 business days under Delaware FOIA. The reply will grant the files, deny and cite a statute, or say more time is needed. If the office denies a request, you can petition the Attorney General's office.

The copy fee follows state law. The first 20 pages are free. Each page after that is ten cents. Staff time may apply for long searches. You get a written cost note before the work starts. Note: The Lewes City Clerk is the single point of contact for most city records that are not held by the police department records unit.

The Lewes Public Library also helps with research. Staff can point you to the right state or county office and let you use public terminals. That is handy when you are not sure which body holds the file you want. The library does not issue Lewes police records, but it is a useful stop for first time requesters.

Sussex County Records for Lewes

Lewes sits in Sussex County, so many records tied to a Lewes case end up in Georgetown. The Sussex County Courthouse at 1 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947 is where felony, misdemeanor, and traffic cases from Lewes get filed. The Sussex County Court of Common Pleas at the same address takes most misdemeanors and traffic tickets. The phone line for that court is (302) 858-5730. Superior Court handles felonies and major civil cases. Family Court takes domestic matters like custody and support.

The Sussex County Sheriff's Office sits at The Circle, PO Box 589, Georgetown, DE 19947. The phone is (302) 855-7830. The Sheriff's Office runs civil process and court security. It does not keep criminal case files on its own. Those stay with Lewes PD, DSP, or the courts. For court records tied to a Lewes arrest, the court clerk is the right office, not the Sheriff. The county government page at sussexcountyde.gov lists the main departments and the FOIA contact.

Fees for arrest files in Sussex County run from $25 to $45 based on the type of search and whether a certified copy is needed. The rate is set by Delaware Administrative Code Title 1, § 1301. The Delaware Attorney General's opinions page at attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/opinions shows how past FOIA disputes were ruled, which helps set a baseline before a Lewes request.

AG opinions can shape how a Lewes police record request is framed. If the city, the DSP, or the Sussex court denies the request, the opinions page shows past rulings that may guide a petition.

State Agencies and Background Checks

Some Lewes police records flow from state agencies, not the city or the county. The Delaware State Police cover the roads and the beach areas near Lewes. DSP Headquarters is at 1441 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, phone (302) 739-5901. For a DSP incident or crash report tied to Lewes, file a FOIA request with DSP. The same 15 day reply rule applies under 29 Del. C. Chapter 100.

For a certified criminal history, the request goes to the State Bureau of Identification. The SBI Sussex County office is at the Thurman Adams State Service Center, 546 South Bedford Street, Room 202, Georgetown, DE 19947. An appointment is required. Call (302) 739-2528 to book one. The office is open Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Results do not come back the same day at the Georgetown office. The mailing address for central SBI is 655 Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901, phone (302) 739-5871.

SBI fees are set by the state. A state-only check is $52.50. A state and federal check is $69.00. Bring a photo ID. The SBI takes cash, credit or debit, a bank check, a money order, or a company check. Personal checks are not accepted.

When you need a record tied to an inmate, try the Delaware Department of Correction site at doc.delaware.gov. The DOC runs the Sussex Correctional Institution in Georgetown, which takes in most people arrested in Sussex County. The DOC has an online inmate lookup. Vital records, like a death record tied to a case, come from the Delaware Division of Public Health Office of Vital Statistics. That office is not part of the police record chain but often pairs with one.

To see the full Delaware FOIA law, check 29 Del. C. Chapter 100. It sets the 15 day reply rule, the copy fee, and the 19 exempt file types. For a state-wide FOIA view, see the delaware.gov FOIA portal. For court records, use courts.delaware.gov, which links to Court Connect and each local clerk.

How to File for Lewes Police Records

There is no single online form for Lewes police records. Most requests go by email or paper. Here is the short path most people follow:

• Pick the right agency: Lewes PD, city clerk, county, or DSP
• Write a short note with your name, contact info, and what you want
• List the case number, date, and names if you have them
• Send it to the FOIA coordinator for that body
• Wait up to 15 business days for a reply
• Pay the copy fee if the reply grants the files

Most Lewes police records come back within the 15 day window. Large or complex asks may need more time. The office must tell you in writing why it needs the extra days. If you get a denial and you think it is wrong, you can petition the Attorney General. Email the office at opengovernment@delaware.gov or mail 820 N. French St, 6th Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801. Past AG opinions on Delaware police records are posted online and help show how the office rules on these asks. Opinion 25-IB29 covered body cam footage. Opinion 24-IB01 covered officer pay and names.

Delaware FOIA does have a residency rule. Under § 10003, only Delaware residents can file a formal FOIA request for most records. The office may ask for ID. News media with a Delaware tie also have access. Out of state people can still ask, but staff may not have to reply. A few record types, like court records, follow a different rule set and are open to all.

Sussex County Records

Lewes sits in Sussex County. The county page links to the Sheriff, the courthouse in Georgetown, the SBI office, and the county FOIA contact. If your Lewes police record sits at the county level, start with the Sussex County hub.

Nearby Delaware Cities

Lewes shares the Sussex coast and nearby inland towns. Pick a nearby city below to find the local police department, the FOIA contact, and the court that serves that area.