Rochester Hills Police Records
Rochester Hills police records are public documents held by the Rochester Hills Police Department in Oakland County. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act gives anyone the right to request incident reports, arrest records, and investigation records from the city without stating a reason. FOIA requests in Rochester Hills go through the City Clerk, who serves as the designated FOIA coordinator. This page explains the process, contact details, fees, and what state tools can supplement a local records search.
Rochester Hills Records at a Glance
Rochester Hills and Oakland County
Rochester Hills is a city in northern Oakland County. The Rochester Hills Police Department, located at 1069 Chesterfield Ave., Rochester Hills, MI 48307, is the primary law enforcement agency for the city. Their main number is (248) 656-4600. City police records are separate from Oakland County Sheriff records. For incidents within the city, start with the local department. For county-level resources and records involving the Oakland County Sheriff, see the Oakland County police records page.
Court records linked to Rochester Hills cases pass through the 52nd District Court and the Oakland County Circuit Court. Michigan courts are not subject to FOIA. Use the Michigan Courts Case Search portal to search case records at no charge, or contact the court clerk directly for certified copies.
How to Request Rochester Hills Police Records
Rochester Hills uses the City Clerk as the designated FOIA coordinator. This is the official channel for all FOIA requests, including police records. A FOIA request form is available at rochesterhills.org/departments/clerk/foia_request.php. You can also write your own request without the form as long as it includes all required information.
Your request must be in writing. Include your complete name, USPS-compliant mailing address, phone number or email, and a specific description of the records you are looking for. Add details that help staff locate the records: the date and location of the incident, names involved, and any case or incident number you know. You can submit by mail to the City Clerk's Office at 1000 Rochester Hills Dr, Rochester Hills, MI 48309, or by email available through the city website at rochesterhills.org, or in person at City Hall during business hours.
Under MCL § 15.231, no reason is required to request records. Under MCL § 15.235, the city must respond within 5 business days of receiving your written request. They can extend that window by up to 10 more business days if they give you written notice explaining the reason for the delay. Email submissions are treated as received on the next business day.
Note: The City Clerk serves as Rochester Hills' FOIA coordinator for both police and general city records. All requests go through that office, not directly to the police department.
Michigan Courts Case Search
The Michigan Courts Case Search portal provides free access to Oakland County court records tied to Rochester Hills cases, including charges filed following a police arrest or incident report.
Search by name or case number to find charges, hearing dates, and dispositions tied to Rochester Hills incidents. This tool is free and does not require a FOIA request to use.
Rochester Hills Police Records Available
The Rochester Hills Police Department produces and retains standard police incident reports, investigation records, and arrest records. Incident reports document what happened when an officer responded to a call. They typically include names of involved parties, dates, times, locations, and case numbers. Investigation records are subject to exemptions under Michigan FOIA, particularly for active cases.
Arrest records show booking details, charges, and what happened with the case after an arrest. Records tied to active investigations are withheld under MCL § 15.243 until the matter closes. Personnel files, informant identities, and materials that could risk someone's safety are also typically exempt. Rochester Hills uses a document imaging and management system for its records, which means documents may be stored digitally and retrieved that way.
If your records request is denied in whole or in part, the city must give you a written denial that identifies which specific exemption covers each withheld document or section. You have 180 days to file a written appeal from the date of the denial. Keep the denial letter. You will need it for any appeal.
Cost of Rochester Hills Police Records
Rochester Hills follows the Michigan FOIA fee rules under MCL § 15.234. Labor is charged at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the task, plus up to 50% of that rate for fringe benefits. Time is tracked in 15-minute increments. If the search and retrieval takes under 15 minutes, no labor charge applies. Copy costs are at actual cost. Standard paper copies are typically about $0.10 per page. For requests with an estimated total over $50, the city can require a 50% deposit before starting work.
A $20 indigency discount is available for residents who submit a sworn affidavit showing they receive public assistance or cannot afford the fee. You can claim this discount up to twice per calendar year. The discount is not available if you are requesting records on behalf of someone who is paying you for them. Always ask for a fee estimate before submitting a large or broad records request so there are no surprises about cost.
Statewide Michigan Police Record Resources
The ICHAT criminal history tool from the Michigan State Police covers statewide felony and serious misdemeanor records for $10 per search. It is the best resource when you want to see someone's record across all 83 Michigan counties, not just what Rochester Hills or Oakland County has on file. ICHAT does not include traffic offenses, juvenile records, or out-of-state cases.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry at mipsor.state.mi.us is free and searchable by name or address. OTIS at mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2 tracks state prison inmates and parolees for free. For crash reports, use the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System or third-party services. For MSP records tied to incidents involving state police troopers, submit a separate request through the MSP FOIA office.
Appealing a Rochester Hills FOIA Denial
If the City Clerk denies your records request, write your appeal within 180 days and address it to the head of the Rochester Hills city government or their designated appeal authority. Explain what you requested and why you believe the denial was wrong. If that appeal is denied, you can take the matter to the Oakland County Circuit Court. Michigan law allows courts to award attorney fees when denials are found wrongful, and to impose damages between $1,000 and $7,500 when a denial was arbitrary or in bad faith. The Michigan Attorney General's FOIA guidance at michigan.gov/ag/foia is a good starting point before you file.
Other Nearby Michigan Cities
Police records pages for nearby qualifying Michigan cities are listed below.