Access Southfield Police Records

Southfield police records are public documents held by the Southfield Police Department Records Bureau in Oakland County. You can request incident reports, arrest records, body camera footage, and accident reports through the city's FOIA process. Southfield has two email contacts for records requests, one for general city records and one for police records. This page walks through the full process, including contacts, fees, and the state tools that help you find more.

Southfield Police Records and Oakland County

Southfield is a city in Oakland County. The Southfield Police Department operates its own Records Bureau at 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI 48076. Their main number is (248) 796-5500. The Records Bureau handles police records separately from county records. For incidents that occurred within Southfield city limits, the local police department is your primary contact. For county-level resources, jail records, and Oakland County Sheriff records, see the Oakland County police records page.

Court records for Southfield cases go through the 46th District Court or the Oakland County Circuit Court. Michigan courts do not fall under FOIA. Use the Michigan Courts Case Search portal to look up case information at no charge, or contact the court clerk for certified copies of documents.

How to Request Southfield Police Records

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL § 15.231 gives anyone the right to request public records. No reason is required. Southfield accepts FOIA requests through several channels and has separate contacts for police and general city records.

For police records, contact the Records Bureau directly at 248-796-5580 or fax to 248-796-5305. For general city FOIA requests, email ngallowayjames@cityofsouthfield.com with "FOIA" in the subject line, or fax to (248) 796-5155. You can also mail requests to the City Clerk's Office at 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI 48037, or visit in person during business hours. A FOIA policy summary is available at the city website.

Your written request should include your name, USPS-compliant address, phone, email, and a clear description of the records you want. Include the date and location of the incident, names involved, and any case number you have. Under MCL § 15.235, the city must respond within 5 business days of receiving your request, and can extend that by up to 10 more business days with written notice. Email and fax are treated as received on the following business day.

Michigan County FOIA Portals

County-level FOIA portals in Michigan provide electronic submission and tracking. While Southfield uses its own city process, Oakland County resources at oakgov.com/foia complement local records for county-wide matters.

Many Michigan counties offer online FOIA submission tools similar to county-level portals around the state. Check the Oakland County FOIA Center for records that involve county agencies alongside Southfield Police Department records.

What Southfield Police Records Are Available

The Southfield Police Department Records Bureau maintains incident reports, investigation records, body camera footage, and accident reports. Incident reports document officer responses to calls and include names, dates, times, locations, and case numbers. Accident reports cover vehicle crashes handled by Southfield officers. Body camera footage can be requested but requires additional review time for required redaction of exempt content, just as in other Michigan cities.

Arrest records are available once charges are filed and the case moves past investigation. Records tied to active cases are typically withheld under MCL § 15.243 until the matter closes. Personnel files, informant identities, and records that could put someone at risk are also exempt. When Southfield denies a request or withholds records, they must tell you in writing which specific exemption applies to each document or portion withheld.

A FOIA policy summary is publicly available on the city's website at cityofsouthfield.com. This document outlines the general process, fee schedule, and how the city handles requests. Reading it before you submit can save time and help you frame your request correctly the first time.

Southfield Police Records Fee Schedule

Southfield follows the Michigan FOIA fee structure under MCL § 15.234. Labor is billed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can perform the task, plus fringe benefits up to 50% of that rate. Time is tracked in 15-minute increments, rounded down. If the entire process takes under 15 minutes, no labor charge applies. Overtime is not included unless you agree to it in writing before work starts.

If contracted labor is used, the cap is $48.90 per hour, which is six times the state minimum wage. Copy costs are at actual duplication cost. Standard paper copies are about $0.10 per page. If the estimated total exceeds $50, Southfield can ask for a 50% deposit before starting. This deposit must be paid before any work begins on your request.

The $20 indigency discount is available with a sworn affidavit showing you receive public assistance or cannot pay. Nonprofit organizations that advocate for people with developmental disabilities or mental illness may also qualify for the discount under certain conditions. You can appeal fee disputes to the Southfield City Manager. If that appeal fails, the next step is the Oakland County Circuit Court. Under state law, courts can award attorney fees and other costs if a fee decision is found to be wrongful.

Michigan Statewide Police Record Databases

The ICHAT database from the Michigan State Police covers statewide felony and serious misdemeanor records. The fee is $10 per search. ICHAT is run by MSP and gives you a broader view of someone's criminal history than a single Southfield report provides. It does not cover traffic offenses, juvenile records, or federal cases.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry at mipsor.state.mi.us is free and searchable by name or address. The OTIS system for state inmates and parolees is free at mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2. For crash reports from incidents on state-maintained roads or involving MSP troopers, use the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System. For MSP records directly, submit to the MSP FOIA office online.

Challenging a Southfield FOIA Denial

If Southfield denies your request, review the written denial carefully. It must list the specific MCL § 15.243 exemption for each withheld record. If you think the denial is wrong, write a formal appeal and submit it within 180 days. Your first appeal goes to the Southfield City Manager. If the City Manager upholds the denial, you can file a civil action in the Oakland County Circuit Court. Courts can award attorney fees and costs when denials are found wrongful. Arbitrary or bad-faith denials may result in damages between $1,000 and $7,500. The Michigan Attorney General's FOIA resources at michigan.gov/ag/foia can help you understand what grounds you have for an appeal before filing.

Other Oakland County Cities

Find police records pages for other nearby qualifying Michigan cities.