Unincorporated Manatee County residents can file police reports online

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office introduced a new way for citizens to file police reports — online, at any time of day or night.

“Online reporting is something we’ve been working toward for a long time because we understand the convenience of it,” said Randy Warren, the Sheriff Office's public information officer. “It’s just the world we live in today. A lot of law enforcement agencies have gone in this direction.”

The system is only for non-emergencies, such as vandalism or identity theft. Residents should call 911 to report emergencies and crimes in progress.

Only incidents that take place in unincorporated Manatee County can be reported. If the incident happens in the city of Bradenton, Palmetto, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach or Longboat Key, it needs to be reported to the respective city's police department. 

But if two drivers in East County get into a fender bender, they no longer have to wait for a deputy to arrive on the scene to file a police report. Drivers can exchange information, snap a few photos and be on their way. 

The drivers have the option to file a report on the spot with a smartphone or wait until they get home. Photos and documentation can be attached to the online report. 

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office receives nearly 1,000 calls for service per day. The online portal was launched in June and has received about 200 report filings. 

Deputies follow up on each report, so introducing the system wasn’t about freeing up their time, it was designed to offer an additional avenue for the public to communicate with them.

Warren noted that even though residents have to provide contact information in most cases, there’s a sense of anonymity when filing online, so people who might be shy or hesitant to file a police report in person could be more apt to do so online. 

MCSO deputies simply want all the information they can gather.

“That’s intel that will then lead to us to connecting the dots on other cases,” Warren said. “Don’t hesitate to give us a report of information. You might not think it’s important, but it’s important to us because we may be seeing a trend.” 

Warren emphasized that people are encouraged to speak with a deputy however they prefer, whether that be online, over the phone, walking into a police station or having a deputy visit their home or business.

The website is simply meant to enhance MCSO’s services. It eliminates wait times to file non-emergency police reports. Residents can also save themselves in-person visits for bike, golf cart and “Combat Auto Theft” registrations.

All three registrations aim to assist in recovery if the item is stolen. The Combat Auto Theft registration is part of a voluntary program that is intended to prevent auto theft. 

A decal is placed on the vehicle, which grants law enforcement the right to stop the vehicle and detain its occupants at any time between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. for the purpose of determining if the vehicle is stolen. 

Warren said MCSO took its time before launching the online system because the staff wanted to make sure the website was simple to use. 

So far, Warren said the Sheriff's Office has received no complaints about difficulties filing a report online. 

The website offers 20 multiple choice options as to which type of report can be filed. Beside each option is a definition and an example. Any restrictions or mandatory attachments are noted in red lettering. 

For example, the category of “lost property” is defined as “when property is missing or lost.” Red lettering notes that lost firearms, driver's licenses, vehicle tags and decals cannot be reported online.

The example further explains what constitutes lost property: Leaving items in a location by mistake, forgetting a purse at a restaurant, leaving a wallet on a store counter and misplacing or unintentionally dropping your mobile phone.

The next page leads to the report where contact information and details about the incident can be provided. 

Once the report is processed, a deputy reviews it and makes contact. 

Warren called the online system a “win-win” because it eliminates wait times for residents and helps the deputies process information.