Police Blotter in St. John the Baptist Parish

The St. John the Baptist Parish police blotter covers incident reports, arrest logs, and public safety records maintained by the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office, headquartered in LaPlace. This page covers how to request records, what to include in your written request, and where to find online resources for the parish.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Mike Tregre leads the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office, located at 1801 West Airline Highway in LaPlace. While the official parish seat is Edgard, the Sheriff's headquarters and most operations are based in LaPlace, which is the largest community in the parish. The main line is 985-652-2222, and the Incident Reports line is 985-652-9513. If you are requesting a copy of an incident report, call the dedicated reports line first. For written records requests, the email address is records.request@stjohnsheriff.org, and mail can be sent to P.O. Box 1600, LaPlace, LA 70069.

The LSP background checks page at lsp.org/services/background-checks provides state-level criminal history services that can complement local records from the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office.

State Police background checks cover criminal records from all Louisiana parishes and are a useful tool when you need a broader search beyond parish-level records.

Under La. R.S. § 44:31, every adult in Louisiana has the right to inspect and copy public records held by a government body. The Sheriff's Office must comply with this law. La. R.S. § 44:32 requires a response within three business days of receiving a written request. The response must be the record itself, a written denial with a legal reason, or a notice explaining when the record will be available.

Police Blotter Records and Incident Reports

The police blotter in St. John the Baptist Parish is a running log of daily law enforcement activity. Entries include arrests, calls for service, traffic stops, and other incidents handled by the Sheriff's Office. These are public records under La. R.S. § 44:1, which defines public records as any document or data made or kept by a government body in carrying out public business. You do not need to give a reason for requesting blotter records in Louisiana.

Incident reports cost $7.00 per report in St. John the Baptist Parish. This flat fee covers a copy of the report documenting a specific incident. It is one of the more clearly set fees among Louisiana parishes, which makes it straightforward to budget for a request. If you need multiple reports, multiply accordingly. Pay when you pick up the report or follow the office's instructions for submitting payment with a mail request.

Crash reports are handled under La. R.S. § 32:398. If a parish deputy responded to the accident, the report is filed with the Sheriff's Office. If a Louisiana State Trooper responded instead, contact the LSP Traffic Records Unit. Either way, the report is generally available to parties involved in the accident and to the public once the investigation ends. Call the Incident Reports line at 985-652-9513 to find out which agency handled a specific crash before deciding where to send your request.

Note: Records tied to open criminal investigations may be temporarily withheld under La. R.S. § 44:3. Once the investigation closes or charges are filed, the records typically become available. A denial under this exemption must be in writing with the specific legal basis cited.

LaPlace and Online Resources

LaPlace is the main community in St. John the Baptist Parish and is where the Sheriff's Office is located. Residents of LaPlace looking for police blotter information can find records through the Sheriff's Office using the same process as all other parish residents. There is no separate city police department for LaPlace; all law enforcement in the unincorporated areas of the parish is handled by the Sheriff's Office. For more information specific to LaPlace, visit the LaPlace city page.

The Sheriff's Office website at stjohnsheriff.org includes weather station data for the parish, which reflects the office's role in local emergency management alongside traditional law enforcement duties. The site also provides contact information for each division of the office and general guidance on available services.

For records that are not held locally, the Louisiana State Police maintains statewide resources. The LSP background check service at lsp.org/services/background-checks covers criminal history records from agencies across Louisiana. The LSP forms page at lsp.org/forms provides downloadable forms for state-level record requests. Both resources are useful when your search goes beyond what the parish office can provide.

How to Submit a Records Request

To request police blotter records from the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office, submit a written request to Sheriff Mike Tregre at P.O. Box 1600, LaPlace, LA 70069. You can also email records.request@stjohnsheriff.org with your written request. For incident reports specifically, calling 985-652-9513 first can help you confirm the report number and what you need to include in your request. The $7.00 fee per incident report applies regardless of whether you pick it up in person or request it by mail.

Your written request should include your full name, a description of the record you are requesting, the date or date range of the incident, any case numbers if you have them, and the name of the person involved if you know it. Include a phone number or email address so the office can reach you if they have questions. For mail requests, include a check or money order for the applicable fee payable to the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office.

Once your request is received, the office has three business days under La. R.S. § 44:32 to respond. A denial must be in writing with a specific legal basis. Common reasons for denial include ongoing investigations under La. R.S. § 44:3 and records involving juveniles, which are sealed under state law. If you believe a denial was improper, you can appeal to district court or contact the Louisiana Attorney General's office. The Louisiana State Archives at lsa.org provides guidance on public records rights statewide.

Nearby Parishes

St. John the Baptist Parish sits in the River Parishes region between Baton Rouge and New Orleans and borders six neighboring parishes.