Sussex County Police Blotter
Sussex County police blotter records span farm towns, inland cities, and Atlantic beach communities. The Sussex County Sheriff's Office, Delaware State Police Troop 4, and a long list of municipal agencies feed the county's police blotter. Beach towns like Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, and Fenwick Island each have their own police. Inland cities like Seaford, Milford, and Georgetown run their own records units too. This page shows where each Sussex County police blotter entry lives and how to file a records request.
Sussex County Overview
Sussex County Sheriff's Office
The Sussex County Sheriff's Office sits on The Circle in Georgetown. The mailing address is PO Box 589, Georgetown, DE 19947. Call (302) 855-7830 for the main line. The sheriff handles civil process, warrant service, and court security at the Sussex County Courthouse.
The Sussex County Sheriff page also links out to the twelve-plus municipal departments the office coordinates with. Those include Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Lewes, Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Millsboro, Seaford, Georgetown, Laurel, Milton, Selbyville, and Bridgeville. Each department keeps its own police blotter for the area it patrols.
The Sussex Correctional Institution at 20653 Blue Church Road, Georgetown, is the main detention facility for Sussex County. Inmate lookups go through the Delaware Department of Correction portal at doc.delaware.gov.
Note: Delaware State Police Troop 4 at 23652 Shortly Road, Georgetown, handles unincorporated parts of Sussex County not covered by a town police department.
Arrest Records in Sussex County
Sussex County arrest records hold more detail than a short police blotter line. Each file lists the arrestee's name, date of birth, physical description, photo, and fingerprints. The file also has the arresting agency, officer name and badge, date, time, and location of arrest, warrant info, charge codes, bond status, and scheduled court dates.
The Sussex County arrest records guide lays out five ways to look up an arrest:
- Contact Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification at 655 Bay Road, Dover, (302) 739-5871
- Visit the Sussex County Sheriff's Office in Georgetown
- Submit a FOIA request to the arresting agency
- Check with the local municipal police department
- Request records from Sussex County Court of Common Pleas, 1 The Circle, Suite 1, Georgetown, (302) 858-5730
Fees run $25 to $45 depending on the search type. Certified copies add to the bill. Retention is generous. Basic arrest data stays forever. Investigation records run 5 to 20 years. Court records are kept 10 to 20 years after disposition.
Lewes Police Blotter Monthly Reports
The Lewes Police Department publishes monthly MCC reports that work as the city's public police blotter. The archive goes back several years. Recent posts cover February 2026, January 2026, and December 2025.
Pull the archive at ci.lewes.de.us. The reports list calls for service, arrests, traffic enforcement, training, and community outreach. Chief Thomas R. Spell leads a department of 13 officers at 114 East Third Street, Lewes, DE 19958. The phone is (302) 645-6264. FOIA requests go to the City Manager's Office.
FOIA Opinions on Sussex County Police Blotter Denials
The Attorney General's office has ruled on several Sussex County police blotter denials. One of the more recent opinions involved a Lewes Fire Department audio recording request.
In 24-IB43 from October 17, 2024, a requester asked for audio records of Lewes Fire Department radio communications from 5 to 6 PM on August 19, 2024. The county denied the request, citing the investigatory files exemption in 29 Del. C. § 10002(o)(3). The records were tied to a Fire Prevention Commission investigation. The AG ruled the county did not violate FOIA. Files compiled for law enforcement stay exempt even after the case closes.
Read other opinions at attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/opinions. A quick review before filing a Sussex County police blotter request can save a denial.
Sussex County Court Records
Criminal cases tied to a Sussex County police blotter arrest move through courts in Georgetown. The Sussex County Courthouse sits at 1 The Circle. Call (302) 855-7055 for general info. Superior Court hears felonies. Court of Common Pleas takes misdemeanors. Justice of the Peace Courts cover minor criminal and traffic cases.
Pull case dockets at courts.delaware.gov/CourtConnect. Public terminals at the courthouse run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Juvenile and expunged cases do not show up in Court Connect.
Filing a Sussex County Police Blotter Request
A Sussex County police blotter records request starts with the right agency. If the Delaware State Police handled the call, file with Troop 4 or the state FOIA Coordinator at dsp.delaware.gov/foia. If a town police department handled it, file with that agency. The county-level FOIA Coordinator handles items from the sheriff and county departments.
For fire records, the Sussex County FOIA contact at the State Fire Marshal is John M. Galaska at 22705 Park Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947. Call (302) 856-5600 or fax (302) 856-5800. File the request at statefiremarshal.delaware.gov.
The state FOIA clock is 15 business days under 29 Del. C. § 10003(h). Active warrants across Sussex County show in the DELJIS public file at pubsrv.deljis.delaware.gov. Anonymous tips go to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.
Beach Town Police Blotter Feeds
The Sussex County beach towns each run their own police blotter. Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, and Fenwick Island see their biggest call volume during the summer season. Each town posts press items and handles records requests through the city manager or police chief. Summer blotters often cover noise complaints, minor assaults, DUIs, and beach ordinance calls.
Sussex County State Police Troop 4 covers unincorporated areas and backs up the town departments when needed. The troop sits at 23652 Shortly Road in Georgetown. Press releases from Troop 4 show up on the Delaware State Police Newsroom. The statewide newsroom is the single best source for high-profile Sussex County police blotter items like fatal crashes or drug busts.
The Sussex County police blotter also pulls in Sex Offender Registry updates. Tier II and Tier III offenders with Sussex County addresses show on the state registry. Use the map search to find offenders living near you. Sign up for email alerts for new registrations in the area.
Note: Tier I offenders do not appear on the public Sussex County police blotter feeds or state registry site, so local residents may need to call the State Bureau of Identification at (302) 739-5882 for more details.
Response Times and Fees in Sussex County
Sussex County agencies follow the state rule of 15 business days to reply to a FOIA. A complex Sussex County police blotter request may stretch longer. The agency has to send a note explaining why more time is needed.
Copy fees vary across Sussex County. The Lewes FOIA form lets you set the max you are willing to pay before the work starts. State Bureau of Identification arrest record checks run $25 to $45. Court Connect basic searches are free. Certified copies of court documents cost extra and must be picked up in person at the Georgetown courthouse.
If a Sussex County police blotter request gets turned down, the AG petition path is open. File the petition, state your facts, and wait for a ruling. The Attorney General has five business days to look at the file before writing an opinion. Past opinions set the line on what the county can hold back under the investigatory files exemption and the personnel records exemption. Many of the big denials in the county tie back to pending cases or sealed investigations.
Sussex County Cities Police Blotter Pages
Pick a Sussex County city below for local police blotter contacts, press feeds, and the right records office.