Detroit Police Records
Detroit police records are public documents held by the Detroit Police Department and the City of Detroit Law Department, available to anyone through a FOIA request. These records cover incident reports, arrest logs, crash reports, 911 audio, dash-cam video, and more. Whether you need a copy of a report for legal purposes or want to look into an incident, this page walks you through how to search Detroit police records, who to contact, and what to expect throughout the process.
Detroit Police Records at a Glance
How to Request Detroit Police Records
The Detroit Police Department handles police record requests through the City of Detroit Law Department FOIA Division. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, found at MCL § 15.231, every person has the right to request and receive copies of public records. Detroit gives you five ways to submit a FOIA request for police records.
The fastest method is the online form at detroitmi.gov. This portal is built specifically for Detroit Police Department records and is separate from FOIA requests for other city departments. You can also email your request to DPDFOIA@detroitmi.gov. If you prefer, you can fax to 313-224-5505, mail to the City of Detroit Law Department FOIA Division, Coleman A. Young Municipal Building, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500, Detroit, MI 48226, or hand-deliver your request to the same address.
A downloadable PDF form is available at detroitmi.gov. You are not required to use this form, but it covers all the fields the department needs to locate records quickly. The form asks for your full name, mailing address, phone, fax, email, and a clear description of the records you want.
One key rule in Detroit: requests cannot be made in the name of a company. If you are requesting on behalf of an organization, you must name the individual making the request. Avoid broad language like "any and all" records. That kind of phrasing can slow things down or lead to a deposit demand before work begins.
Note: If the record relates to someone other than the person making the request, Detroit may require a notarized authorization form before releasing it.
What Detroit Police Records You Can Get
Detroit Police Department records cover a wide range of law enforcement documents. The types of records you can request include:
- Incident reports
- Arrest reports
- Mug shots
- 911 audio recordings
- 911 Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) reports
- Police dash-cam videos
Crash reports for accidents in Detroit are also available. These are typically filed on the state UD-10 form. Keep in mind that if you request an accident report within 30 days of the crash, you are restricted from using personal information from the report for commercial solicitation or direct mailing. This restriction comes from Michigan law and applies statewide, not just in Detroit. The FOIA request form itself has a special acknowledgment you must sign confirming you understand this rule.
Records tied to active investigations may be withheld. Under MCL § 15.243, agencies can exempt records from disclosure if releasing them would interfere with an ongoing case. Once an investigation closes or charges are filed, those records generally become available. If your request is denied, Detroit must provide a written explanation that identifies the specific exemption being applied.
Juvenile records are restricted. Detroit, like all Michigan agencies, follows state law on juvenile records access. Records involving individuals under 17 are sealed in most cases and are not released without a court order. Do not expect these to be part of a standard FOIA response.
Detroit's Online FOIA Portal
The NextRequest platform used by the Sterling Heights Police Department shows the kind of online portal that Michigan agencies use to process FOIA requests. Detroit's own online FOIA submission tool at detroitmi.gov follows a similar approach, letting you submit and track your request in one place.
Online portals like this one let you track status, respond to agency messages, and download completed records without making phone calls or waiting for mail. Detroit's portal is the recommended starting point for most record requests.
Response Times and Fees
Detroit must respond to your FOIA request within 5 business days of receiving it. If your request is sent by email or fax, it is considered received the next business day. The department can extend the response window by up to 10 additional business days, but only if they send you written notice explaining why. That written notice is required by state law under MCL § 15.235.
Fees follow the rules set by state law. Labor is charged at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid city employee capable of handling your request. Copying fees are based on actual cost. If the total estimated fee exceeds $50, Detroit can ask for a 50% deposit before work begins. If you previously failed to pay for a completed request, they can require full payment upfront on your next request.
A fee estimate form is available from the Law Department if you want to know the cost before committing. Large or complex requests involving video footage or audio recordings often come with higher fees because of the staff time involved. It is worth asking for an estimate before you submit a request for materials like dash-cam video or 911 call recordings.
Note: If your estimated fees exceed $50, a 50% good-faith deposit is required before Detroit begins work on your request. Plan ahead if you expect a large or complex response.
Other Detroit Area Police Record Resources
Detroit sits in Wayne County. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office maintains separate records for county-level law enforcement activity. If the incident you are researching involved county deputies rather than the Detroit Police Department, your request should go to the sheriff's office instead.
For statewide criminal history records, the Michigan State Police runs the Internet Criminal History Access Tool, known as ICHAT. A search costs $10 and covers felonies and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties. ICHAT does not include traffic offenses, juvenile records, or federal charges. It is available at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat.
Court records for cases that went through the Detroit criminal courts can be searched through the Michigan Courts Case Search tool. This free database covers district and circuit court records and lets you look up charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. It is a strong complement to a police records request when you want the full picture of how a case was handled.
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry is free to search at mipsor.state.mi.us. You can search by name or Detroit address to find individuals registered under Michigan's sex offender laws.
Nearby Cities
If you need police records from a city near Detroit, each municipality handles its own FOIA process. Find the right page below.