St. Landry Parish Police Blotter
The St. Landry Parish police blotter covers incident reports, arrest logs, and public safety records maintained by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office in Opelousas. This page explains how to request records, what the process looks like, and where to find online tools for the parish.
St. Landry Parish Quick Facts
St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz leads the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office (SLPSO), located at 1592 East Prudhomme Street in Opelousas. The main phone is 337-948-6516 and the fax is 337-394-5911. The office handles patrol, civil process, and records for one of the larger central Louisiana parishes. It serves a broad geographic area and handles a high volume of law enforcement activity. When you need a police blotter record, incident report, or other public safety document, a written request is the required first step. Phone calls can help you confirm what to include, but you must submit a legal request, a FOIA-style public information request (PIR), or a similar written document before the office will act on it.
| Address | 1592 East Prudhomme Street, Opelousas, LA 70570 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 337-948-6516 |
| Fax | 337-394-5911 |
| Website | slpsheriff.com |
The Louisiana State Police forms page at lsp.org/forms provides state-level request forms that may be useful when you need records from the LSP or the state Bureau of Criminal Identification alongside a local St. Landry Parish request.
State Police forms can supplement parish-level requests, particularly when criminal history or crash records involve both the SLPSO and the Louisiana State Police.
La. R.S. § 44:31 gives every adult in Louisiana the right to inspect or copy public records. The SLPSO must follow this law. Under La. R.S. § 44:32, the office has three business days to respond to a written request, either by providing the record, issuing a written denial with a legal basis, or notifying you of when the record will be ready.
What Records Are Available in St. Landry Parish
The police blotter is a log of daily activity at the Sheriff's Office. Entries typically include arrests, traffic stops, calls for service, and other incidents deputies respond to. Under La. R.S. § 44:1, these are public records. The definition is broad: any document or electronic record made or kept by a public body in carrying out public duties qualifies. You do not need to explain why you want a blotter record or give a reason for your request.
Incident reports go further than blotter entries. They document individual events in detail, including what happened, who was involved, what evidence was collected, and what deputies did. These are public records once a case is no longer under active investigation. La. R.S. § 44:3 allows the office to withhold records tied to open criminal probes. Once the case closes or charges are filed, the records generally become available. Any denial must be in writing and must name the specific exemption that applies. You can challenge a denial in district court if you believe the exemption was used improperly.
Motor vehicle crash reports are available through the SLPSO for accidents handled by parish deputies. Under La. R.S. § 32:398, these reports are public once the investigation ends. If Louisiana State Police responded to the crash, the report would be held by the LSP, not the parish office. Confirm which agency responded before deciding where to send your request.
Note: Records involving juvenile subjects are sealed in Louisiana and cannot be released through a standard public records request. This applies regardless of the type of incident or the nature of the record.
Online Tools and the Sheriff's App
The St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office offers several digital resources. The office has a mobile app that lets residents report crimes, submit tips, and receive public safety alerts for the parish. This is a useful tool for staying informed about local incidents as they happen, even if it does not provide direct access to full blotter records. The app is available through the Sheriff's website at slpsheriff.com.
Online ticket payments are also available through the office, which saves a trip to the courthouse for people who need to resolve traffic citations. The website provides contact details for each division of the office and general information about services available to parish residents. If you are looking for a specific type of record and are not sure which division handles it, the website is a good starting point before calling.
For state-level records, the Louisiana State Police background check service at lsp.org/services/background-checks covers criminal history records held by the state. This is the right resource when you need a comprehensive check that goes beyond what the St. Landry Parish Sheriff holds locally. The LSP maintains records from agencies across Louisiana through the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information.
How to Request Records from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff
The SLPSO requires all records requests to be submitted in writing. You can mail a request to 1592 East Prudhomme Street, Opelousas, LA 70570, or fax it to 337-394-5911. Your written request should clearly describe what you are looking for. Include the type of record, the date range, any case numbers if you have them, and the name of any person involved. The more specific your request, the faster the office can respond.
Call 337-948-6516 before submitting to confirm the current process and find out who to address your request to. The office may have updated procedures or specific contacts for different types of records. If you are requesting records about yourself, a copy of your ID may be required. For records about another person, you may need to show a legal basis for the request, particularly for detailed reports rather than basic blotter entries.
Standard copy fees in Louisiana run from $0.25 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more. Ask the office about current fees and payment methods when you call. Under La. R.S. § 44:32, the office must respond within three business days. A denial must be in writing with the applicable legal reason. If you disagree with a denial, you can appeal in district court or contact the Louisiana Attorney General's office. Guidance on public records rights in Louisiana is available at the Louisiana State Archives website, lsa.org.
Nearby Parishes
St. Landry Parish is located in central Louisiana and shares borders with six neighboring parishes, each with its own Sheriff's Office and records process.