Central Police Blotter

Central police blotter records come from the Central Police Department, which serves the incorporated city, and from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office for parish-level matters. This page explains how to request incident reports, arrest logs, and other public records from both agencies.

Central Police Department

The City of Central has its own police department that was established when Central incorporated as a city in 2005. The Central Police Department handles patrol and incident response within the city limits. For police blotter records and incident reports tied to incidents inside the city, contact the Central Police Department directly. Their website is at cityofcentral.org/police-department, which lists current contact information and department news.

The Central Police Department website also posts press releases and crime alerts that reflect recent activity in the city. These posts are a public-facing version of blotter information and can give you a sense of what has been happening in the area without needing to submit a formal records request. For detailed incident reports or records connected to a specific case, a written request to the department is the appropriate next step.

The Central Police Department serves the incorporated city and maintains all incident records for activity that occurs within city limits, separate from the parish sheriff's records.

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office (EBRSO) handles law enforcement for the broader parish and plays a role in Central even though the city has its own police force. The EBRSO handles civil process, tax collection, and the parish jail system. For records that touch the parish level, or for incidents that occurred in unincorporated East Baton Rouge before Central incorporated, the EBRSO holds those files.

The EBRSO main office is at 8900 Jimmy Wedell Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70807. The main line is 225-389-5000. For written records requests, mail to P.O. Box 3277, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Traffic and criminal reports from EBRSO are priced at $7.50 per report. The website at ebrso.org has additional information about records and services.

If you are requesting a record and are not sure whether the Central Police Department or the EBRSO handled the incident, start by calling the Central PD. They can confirm whether the incident is in their system or refer you to the Sheriff's Office if it is not.

What the Central Police Blotter Includes

The blotter for Central covers arrests, traffic stops, calls for service, accidents, and other incidents logged by the police department during daily operations. Because Central is a relatively compact city in a suburban area northeast of Baton Rouge, traffic-related incidents and property crimes make up a significant portion of activity. Arrest entries may include the name of the person taken into custody, since arrests are public records under Louisiana law.

La. R.S. § 44:1 defines public records as any document made or kept by a public body in connection with public business. Incident reports and blotter logs kept by the Central Police Department fall under that definition. La. R.S. § 44:31 gives any adult the right to inspect or copy those records. La. R.S. § 44:32 requires the agency to respond to a written request within three business days.

Records connected to open criminal investigations may be withheld under La. R.S. § 44:3. That exemption allows the department to delay disclosure while an active probe is ongoing. If your request touches an open case, the department must still respond within three business days and explain in writing why the record is being withheld and when it may become available.

Note: Juvenile records are not part of the public blotter and are protected separately. Any record involving a minor will be withheld regardless of whether the investigation is active or closed.

Crash Reports in Central

Accidents in Central may have been investigated by the Central Police Department or by the Louisiana State Police, depending on which road the crash occurred on. Accidents on state highways are often handled by State Police even when they occur within a city. The Central PD handles crashes on local streets and roads within the city.

Under La. R.S. § 32:398, Louisiana accident reports are available to involved parties and the public after the investigation is closed. If the State Police worked the crash, you can request the report through the Louisiana State Police Traffic Records Unit at lsp.org. That portal lets you order crash reports online without going through the local agency. The EBRSO report fee is $7.50, which serves as a reference for what to expect from parish-level reports in the area.

How to Get Records from Central Area Agencies

For Central PD records, start with the department website at cityofcentral.org/police-department. Call the department to find out what form to fill out and whether you can submit by email, in person, or by mail. Have the incident date, location, and any case number ready before you call. The more specific your request, the faster it will be processed.

For EBRSO records, you can call 225-389-5000 or mail a written request to P.O. Box 3277, Baton Rouge. The $7.50 fee applies to traffic and criminal reports. Include your name, the type of record, dates, and any names or case numbers in your request. The agency has three business days to respond under La. R.S. § 44:32. If they deny your request, they must give you a written reason.

Criminal history background checks that span beyond East Baton Rouge Parish are available through the Louisiana State Police at lsp.org/services/background-checks/. That statewide check is more complete than what any single local agency can provide and is useful when you need a full picture of someone's criminal history across multiple parishes.

Nearby Cities

Central is located in East Baton Rouge Parish, northeast of the state capital.