Find Caroline County Police Blotter
Police blotter records in Caroline County come from the sheriff's office and several municipal police departments across the county. The Caroline County Sheriff's Office is based in Denton and covers unincorporated areas along with towns that do not have their own police force. Five towns in the county run separate police departments: Denton, Federalsburg, Greensboro, Preston, and Ridgely. You need to contact the right agency based on where the incident took place. The sheriff's office accepts written requests by mail, in person, or by email, and the Maryland Public Information Act sets the rules for what gets released.
Caroline County Police Blotter Overview
Caroline County Police Blotter Search
The Caroline County Sheriff's Office is located at 9305 Double Hills Road in Denton. The main phone number is (410) 479-4120. The fax number is (410) 479-3956. Central Records is managed by Capt. James A. Henning, who also serves as the PIA representative. You can email him at jhenning@carolinemd.org for records requests or questions about what is available.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the fastest free way to look up court cases connected to police blotter entries in Caroline County. You can search by name, case number, or date. It covers both circuit and district court records and is available 24 hours a day. The system shows charges, court dates, and outcomes but does not include the original police report narrative.
The Caroline County Document Center hosts forms and resources for the county government, including records-related documents.
Caroline County Document Center
Check the Document Center for any downloadable forms related to public information requests in Caroline County.
The Caroline County Sheriff's website has information about the department, including a most wanted list with active warrants, photos, and charges. This is another way to browse police blotter data without filing a formal request.
Note: Five towns in Caroline County have their own police departments, so check which agency responded before you file a records request.
How to Request Caroline County Police Reports
You can request police blotter records from the Caroline County Sheriff's Office in person, by mail, or by email. In-person requests are accepted at 9305 Double Hills Road in Denton. Mail requests go to the same address: Caroline County Sheriff's Office, 9305 Double Hills Road, Denton, MD 21629. Email requests go to jhenning@carolinemd.org, which is the PIA representative's direct address.
The Caroline County Sheriff's website provides department information, warrant listings, and contact details for records requests.
Caroline County Sheriff's Office Website
Visit the sheriff's website for the most current contact information and department news related to police activity in the county.
Your request needs to be in writing. Include a specific description of the records you want. A date range helps narrow the search. If you have a case number, include that too. Names of people involved in the incident make it easier to find the right report. You will need to show identification for certain types of records. The sheriff's office follows the Maryland Public Information Act timeline, which gives them 30 days to respond.
For court records, the Circuit Court is at 109 Market Street in Denton. The phone number is (410) 479-1811. The District Court is at 207 South Third Street in Denton and can be reached at (410) 819-4600. The Register of Wills is at 109 Market Street and can be called at (410) 479-0717. Each of these courts handles its own records separately from the sheriff's office.
What Caroline County Police Blotter Records Contain
A standard police blotter entry from the Caroline County Sheriff's Office includes the incident number, date and time, location, and the name of the reporting deputy. It also includes the incident type or classification, complainant information, suspect details when applicable, witness statements, property descriptions, and the officer's narrative. The narrative is the main section of the report where the deputy describes what happened at the scene.
Court records available through the circuit court include criminal case files, civil case files, traffic cases, warrant records, and land records. District court records cover criminal and traffic matters. These are separate from the sheriff's reports but often relate to the same incidents. A police blotter entry may lead to a court case that you can look up through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system.
The Maryland Manual Online provides official directory information for Caroline County government agencies and officials.
Maryland Manual Online - Official Directory
The Maryland Manual lists current office holders and contact details for all Caroline County agencies.
Municipal police departments in the county maintain their own records. Denton, Federalsburg, Greensboro, Preston, and Ridgely each have a separate police force with its own filing system. If you are looking for a report from one of those towns, contact that department directly. The sheriff's office does not have access to municipal police records.
Caroline County Police Blotter Fees
Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies vary in price depending on the document. Court records follow the court's own fee schedule, which is separate from the sheriff's office. If your request takes more than two hours of staff time, the county may charge an hourly research fee. The first two hours are free under the MPIA.
You can pay with cash, check, or money order. Credit cards may be accepted depending on the office you are dealing with. Fee waivers are available under MPIA Section 4-206(e) if you can demonstrate a public interest purpose or financial hardship. Include the waiver request when you first submit your police blotter records request. Do not wait until after the estimate comes back to ask for a waiver.
Note: Each municipal police department in Caroline County sets its own fees, so check with that specific agency for their rates.
Law Enforcement in Caroline County
The Caroline County Sheriff's Office is the largest law enforcement agency in the county. Sheriff Donald L. Baker, Jr. leads the department. The chief deputy is Capt. James A. Henning. The Criminal Investigations Division is headed by Lt. Donald L. Baker. Lt. Ronald M. Dixon runs the Uniform Patrol Division, Civil Process Division, and Circuit Court Security. You can reach the criminal investigations unit at (410) 479-2123 and civil process at (410) 479-4125.
Five municipal police departments operate within Caroline County. Denton, Federalsburg, Greensboro, Preston, and Ridgely all have their own officers and keep their own police blotter records. If an incident happened within town limits, the town police likely responded. If it happened in an unincorporated area or in a town without its own police, the sheriff's office handled it.
The Maryland State Police has a Denton detachment with about 5 officers, according to the 2023 UCR data. State troopers cover state highways in the county. Reports from state police incidents go through the MSP Central Records Division, not the county sheriff. The Maryland Natural Resources Police also operates in the area for parks and waterways.
Caroline County Police Blotter Resources
The Caroline County Document Center is a useful starting point for finding government forms, including those related to public records requests. The sheriff's website has contact information, warrant listings, and department news.
For court records, use the Maryland Judiciary Case Search or visit the Caroline County court clerk's records page. Court records are available in person during business hours. The Maryland Attorney General's PIA page has sample request letters and fee waiver forms that work for any agency in the state.
The Caroline County government website has additional resources and contact information for county departments. For state police incidents in the county, use the Maryland State Police website to submit a separate records request.
Nearby Counties
Looking for police blotter records in a nearby area? Check these neighboring counties.