Kalamazoo County Police Records
Kalamazoo County police records are public documents held by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office and city police departments throughout this southwest Michigan county. This guide covers how to search and request incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other police records in Kalamazoo County using the county's online FOIA portal, the sheriff's records division, and state databases.
Kalamazoo County Police Records at a Glance
Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office Records
The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office is located at 1500 Lamont Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49048. The main office phone is (269) 383-8821. The Records Division can be reached directly at (269) 385-6190. The county website is at kalcounty.gov, and the sheriff's office page is at kalcounty.gov/sheriff/. The records division at this location is the main point of contact for police report requests, collision reports, gun registration records, sex offender registration, incident reports, arrest records, and jail and inmate records.
The county operates an online Public Records Portal where you can submit FOIA requests electronically. This is often the fastest way to request records without visiting in person. The FOIA page is at kalcounty.gov/1141/Freedom-of-Information-Act. The Records Information page at kalcounty.gov/880/Records-Information explains what types of records are available and how each request type is handled. Kalamazoo County also has an Affidavit of Indigency form available online for those who qualify for the fee waiver under MCL § 15.234.
The Kalamazoo County website at kalcounty.gov lists all county departments, the FOIA portal, records information pages, and contact details for the sheriff's office. Start here when looking for the right place to submit your records request.
The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office page at kalcounty.gov/sheriff/ provides details about office divisions, records access, and how to reach the records division at (269) 385-6190.
The Kalamazoo County FOIA page at kalcounty.gov/1141/Freedom-of-Information-Act outlines the full request process, available forms, and the public records portal. This is the most direct path to submitting an online records request to the county.
The Records Information page at kalcounty.gov/880/Records-Information explains which records the Sheriff's Office maintains, how to request each type, and what to expect in terms of processing time and fees.
How to File a FOIA Request in Kalamazoo County
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL § 15.231 et seq. gives every person the right to request public records. No reason is required. No residency requirement applies. Public Act 442 of 1976 enacted this law, and it covers all police records held by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office.
Kalamazoo County offers five ways to submit a FOIA request. The county's online Public Records Portal is the fastest option for most requests. You can also submit in person at 1500 Lamont Ave. during business hours, by mail to the same address, by email through the county website, or by fax. Whichever method you choose, describe the records clearly. Include your name, contact information, the date of the incident, names involved, and any report or case number. For the indigency waiver, download the Affidavit of Indigency form from the county website, complete it with a notary, and submit it with your request.
Under MCL § 15.235, the agency has 5 business days to respond. Email and fax requests count as received the next business day. Extensions of up to 10 additional business days are allowed with written notice. Denials must cite the specific MCL § 15.243 exemption in writing. You can appeal within 180 days to the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. If a court finds the denial improper, you may recover attorney fees. Per MCL § 15.234, the indigency discount of up to $20 is available twice per calendar year.
Note: Online collision reports may be available directly through the county records portal without a full FOIA request. Check the Records Information page first to see what is available that way.
Kalamazoo County Police Record Fees
Under MCL § 15.234, paper copies cost $0.10 per page. Labor is charged at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of handling the task, plus up to 50% for fringe benefits, in 15-minute increments. No labor fee applies for searches under 15 minutes. Digital copies are charged at actual cost when the county has the capability to provide them that way.
If the estimated total exceeds $50, the office can require a 50% deposit before starting work. If you had a prior unpaid FOIA request, full prepayment may apply. Kalamazoo County makes the Affidavit of Indigency form available on its website. Submit this notarized form with your request to get the first $20 waived. This waiver can be used twice per year and cannot be used if you are requesting records on behalf of someone who is paying you. Always get a fee estimate for large requests upfront.
State Tools for Kalamazoo County Records
Michigan's state databases cover criminal and court records for Kalamazoo County. ICHAT, run by the Michigan State Police, covers statewide felony and serious misdemeanor criminal history. The fee is $10 per search at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat. ICHAT does not include traffic violations or juvenile records.
Court records for Kalamazoo County appear in the free Michigan Courts Case Search. The 9th Circuit Court handles felony and civil matters, and the 8th District Court covers misdemeanors and traffic offenses. Search by name or case number to find charges, outcomes, and hearing dates. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mipsor.state.mi.us is free and searchable by name, county, or address. State prison and parole records appear in OTIS at mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2.aspx. For FOIA dispute guidance, the Michigan Attorney General has resources at michigan.gov/ag/foia.
City of Kalamazoo Police Records
The city of Kalamazoo has its own police department that maintains records separately from the county sheriff. For incidents that happened within Kalamazoo city limits and were handled by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, contact that city agency directly. The county sheriff's office only holds records for incidents it handled in unincorporated areas and townships. See the Kalamazoo city police records page for city-specific contact information, FOIA procedures, and records access details.
Nearby Counties
Kalamazoo County is in southwest Michigan. These counties border Kalamazoo and each has its own sheriff and records process.