Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. The arrest and crime counts are the ones each agency reported to the FBI, as the FBI held them on October 8, 2026. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 24, 2026 and October 2, 2026.
Petal, Mississippi, in Forrest County, has about 12,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from Petal depends on where the incident happened. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the Mississippi Public Records Act requires of it.
This guide covers which agency, the city's records page, the sheriff's reports, what the law requires and common questions.
Related guides: Petal public records, Forrest County police reports, Petal arrest records, Petal warrants, Petal inmate search, Petal criminal records, Mississippi arrest records and Mississippi inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from Petal
The report of an incident is released by the agency that took it; the court and the jail hold their own records of the same event, but not the report.
Inside Petal that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as Petal Police Department); outside it, the Forrest County Sheriff's Office.
The FBI's agency list also places two campus police departments, two other agencies and two state agencies in Forrest County, each with a records office of its own.
Reports from the Petal Police
For Petal, SearchSystems opened and checked the Petal police department's page at cityofpetal.com/police (page title: Police | Petal Mississippi), phone 601-544-5331, 127 W. Eighth Ave. Petal, MS 39465, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 26, 2026.
The agency that reports for Petal had 3 violent and 58 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 246 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the Forrest County Sheriff's Office
The Forrest County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 23 violent and 229 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 277 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its custody page, at forrestcountysheriff.com/inmate-roster (page title: Inmate Roster), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 24, 2026.
What the Mississippi Public Records Act Requires
The Mississippi Public Records Act sets the rules: an answer within 7 working days, or up to 14 where local rules allow, at a charge of the actual cost of search, review and copying, from the agency that holds the report.
Any other county record goes through the county records request page SearchSystems verified, at forrestcountysheriff.com/public-records-requests (page title: Public Records Requests).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in Petal?
From the agency that took it. The Petal police department's page is at cityofpetal.com/police, phone 601-544-5331; the sheriff's reports come from the Forrest County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in Petal have to answer?
Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, within 7 working days, or up to 14 where local rules allow. It may charge the actual cost of search, review and copying.
How do I get a report from the Forrest County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act the answer is due within 7 working days, or up to 14 where local rules allow.
Is this the official Petal website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official city, county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.