Henrico County Police Blotter

Henrico County police blotter records are maintained by the Henrico County Police Department, one of Virginia's larger and more data-accessible law enforcement agencies. The department provides real-time active call data, searchable incident reports, arrest records, and calls for service through its public data portal. Whether you want to check current activity or look up a past incident, Henrico County offers more online access than most Virginia counties. This page explains what is available and how to request records that are not online.

Henrico County Police Department

The Henrico County Police Department is headquartered at 7721 E Parham Rd in Henrico, Virginia. The department serves the county's roughly 340,000 residents and handles patrol, investigations, and all law enforcement records for the unincorporated county. Henrico is one of the most populated jurisdictions in Virginia, and the Police Department reflects that scale. In 2024, the department recorded 9,676 total arrests, a figure that shows the volume of activity and the amount of blotter data generated each year.

Henrico operates its own police department rather than relying on the Sheriff's Office for patrol duties, which is uncommon in Virginia. The Sheriff's Office in Henrico handles court security and civil process, while the Police Department handles all law enforcement. This distinction matters when you are looking for records. Patrol incident reports, arrest records, and calls for service all go through the Police Department. The Criminal Records Unit within the department handles requests for publicly available records.

The Henrico County Police Department website is a good starting point for all records-related inquiries. The department maintains a public data access section that covers several categories of law enforcement information.

The department's website provides direct links to public data tools, contact information for the Criminal Records Unit, and general department news and activity summaries.

Henrico County Police Blotter: Active Calls and Live Data

Henrico County offers a real-time active call viewer that is publicly accessible online. The Henrico active calls portal shows current dispatch activity including the call ID, block or intersection, time of the call, incident type, current status, and magisterial district. This tool is updated in near real time as calls come in and change status. It is one of the most open public-facing law enforcement tools available in any Virginia county.

The active calls viewer does not show personal information about callers or subjects. You see the incident type and location, not names or detailed narratives. For specific incident details, you still need to file a FOIA request. But the active calls portal gives you a real-time picture of law enforcement activity across the county. It is especially useful for residents who want to know what is happening in their neighborhood at a given time.

The department also publishes searchable data for incident crime reports, calls for service, and arrest reports through its public data access page. These are separate from the active calls viewer and cover historical activity rather than live data.

The Henrico County active calls portal shows real-time law enforcement activity organized by magisterial district, giving residents a live view of police blotter activity across the county.

The active calls portal displays current dispatch data for Henrico County, updated as incidents are logged and status changes are recorded by the department.

Requesting Henrico County Police Blotter Records

Henrico County Police Department records are subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Virginia Code sections 2.2-3700 through 2.2-3714. The Criminal Records Unit within the department handles requests for publicly available records. You can submit your request by email to police@henrico.gov, by phone, in person, or by mail. Written requests are preferred because they create a clear record and start the 5-day response clock. The department must respond within 5 business days of receiving your request.

When requesting a specific incident report, include the date, location, and any case number if you have it. For arrest records, include the full name of the subject and the approximate date of arrest. Calls for service data may be available through the public data portal before a formal FOIA request is needed. The department has made a significant amount of historical data publicly accessible, so it is worth checking the online tools before submitting a written request.

Exempt records in Henrico follow the same Virginia FOIA rules that apply statewide. Active investigation files can be withheld under Virginia Code section 52-8.3. Criminal history records are governed by section 19.2-389. Any denial must cite the specific exemption that applies.

The Henrico County police reports and records page outlines the process for obtaining records from the department, including forms and submission options.

The department's records page provides instructions for submitting FOIA requests and describes what types of records are available to the public.

Note: Copy fees may apply for printed records. The department will notify you of estimated costs before completing any paid work.

Henrico County Arrest Records

Henrico County recorded 9,676 total arrests in 2024. Arrest data from the department is available through the public data portal, which allows searches by date range and other filters. For detailed arrest records, a formal FOIA request through the Criminal Records Unit is the standard path. The department's arrest data reflects activity across all four magisterial districts: Brookland, Fairfield, Tuckahoe, and Varina.

Arrest records available through public data tools include basic information such as arrest date, charge type, and booking details. Personal identifiers and information that could compromise investigations are withheld. For court disposition information, the Virginia court case information system is the place to search. An arrest in Henrico that led to charges will appear in the General District Court or Circuit Court system depending on the severity of the offense.

Arrest records for Henrico County can be searched through the county's public data tools or requested formally through the Criminal Records Unit at the Police Department.

Court Records for Henrico County Incidents

Incidents documented in the Henrico County police blotter often result in court filings. The Virginia General District Court handles misdemeanors and preliminary felony hearings. The Circuit Court handles felony cases and serious criminal matters. Both are searchable through state online systems. Henrico County cases are included in the statewide case information systems, so you can search by party name without visiting the courthouse.

The Virginia State Police works with the Henrico County Police Department on major cases and provides background check services, criminal history data, and the statewide sex offender registry. The VSP also handles cases that cross county or state lines.

Nearby Counties

Henrico County surrounds much of Richmond city and borders several other jurisdictions. Check neighboring agencies for incidents near county boundaries.