Calhoun County Police Records
Calhoun County police records are maintained by the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office at 720 Michigan Avenue in Battle Creek, Michigan. These records include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, inmate information, CCW permit records, and fingerprint services. The Records Division at (269) 969-6442 handles most records requests, and FOIA submissions go through the Calhoun County Corporation Counsel's office for review and coordination.
Calhoun County Police Records at a Glance
Calhoun County Police Records Overview
Calhoun County is home to Battle Creek, one of the qualifying cities in Michigan for its own police records page. The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office serves the unincorporated county and some smaller communities, while the Battle Creek Police Department maintains separate records for city incidents. If your incident occurred within Battle Creek city limits, contact the city police for those records. For incidents outside the city, the county sheriff is the right place to start.
The sheriff's office Records Division at (269) 969-6442 handles requests for incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, jail and inmate records, CCW permits, and fingerprint services. Incident reports document the date, location, names of parties involved, charges filed, and the deputy's account of what happened. Records for closed cases are public under Michigan FOIA. Active investigation files may be withheld under MCL § 15.243.
Calhoun County's FOIA process gained attention from a notable 2022 case. In ACLU v. Calhoun County Sheriff, a court determined that federal regulations cannot be used to exempt records from disclosure under Michigan FOIA. This case reinforced that state FOIA law governs county police records, even when federal programs are involved in the work that generated those records. That decision is relevant for anyone whose request was previously denied on federal grounds.
Accident reports from the sheriff's office are filed using the UD-10 form. You can also access crash reports through the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System for reports archived by the Michigan State Police. Court records for Calhoun County are searchable through the Michigan Courts Case Search tool at no charge. Criminal history records statewide are available through the Michigan State Police ICHAT tool for $10 per search.
Calhoun County Sheriff's Office Contact
The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office is at 720 Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49017. The main number is (269) 969-6450. The Records Division direct line is (269) 969-6442. Fax for records is (269) 969-6489.
The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office page at calhouncountymi.gov/departments/sheriffs_office provides contact information, records division details, and links to department resources. Use it to find the current Records Division hours and submission options.
FOIA requests for Calhoun County are coordinated through the Corporation Counsel's office. The FOIA contact is Susan Connolly, Legal Assistant, and the Corporation Counsel is Kate Ambrose. The FOIA page is at calhouncountymi.gov/departments/administration/foia.php. The Records Division dedicated page is at calhouncountymi.gov/departments/sheriffs_office/records_division.php.
The Calhoun County FOIA page at calhouncountymi.gov outlines the full process for requesting public records, including police records from the sheriff's office. Review the FOIA policy before submitting to make sure your request includes all required information.
Note: The 2022 ACLU v. Calhoun County Sheriff case confirmed that federal program records held by county agencies are still subject to Michigan FOIA disclosure requirements.
FOIA Request Process for Calhoun County
Michigan FOIA at MCL § 15.231 et seq. and Public Act 442 of 1976 gives any person the right to request public records from government agencies. MCL § 15.233 says no reason is required and no residency requirement applies. These rules apply to all Calhoun County agencies including the sheriff's office, the FOIA Coordinator, and the Corporation Counsel's office.
Submit a written FOIA request to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office or through the Corporation Counsel's FOIA process. Describe the record you want clearly: include the incident date, location, names of involved parties, and a case or incident number if you have one. Add your full name, mailing address, phone number, and email. Mail to 720 Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49017, fax to (269) 969-6489, or contact the Records Division at (269) 969-6442 to ask about email submission options.
The agency must respond within 5 business days under MCL § 15.235. A 10-day extension is allowed with written notice. Email and fax submissions are received on the next business day. Denied requests must cite a specific exemption. Appeals go to the head of the agency within 180 days. A circuit court action is available after a failed appeal.
Fees for Calhoun County Police Records
Calhoun County follows the standard Michigan FOIA fee schedule under MCL § 15.234. Paper copies are $0.10 per page for standard sizes. Labor is billed at the lowest-paid capable employee's hourly rate, plus up to 50% for fringe benefits, calculated in 15-minute increments. Searches under 15 minutes carry no labor charge. Actual postage applies for mailed records. Digital delivery is free if the agency has the technical means to provide records electronically.
A 50% deposit is required if the estimated total exceeds $50. Low-income requesters can claim a $20 fee waiver by submitting an affidavit of public assistance or indigency. This waiver can be used twice per calendar year. It does not apply when the request is being made on behalf of a paying third party.
Nearby Counties
Calhoun County is in south-central Michigan. Records from neighboring counties are available below.