Keweenaw County Police Records Lookup
Keweenaw County police records are public documents held by the Keweenaw County Sheriff's Office in Eagle River. The county is the smallest in Michigan by population, with fewer than 3,000 residents, and sits at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula. Despite its small size, the same Michigan FOIA rules apply here as everywhere else in the state. This page covers how to request Keweenaw County police records, what records are available, and which state tools can help you find the information you need.
Keweenaw County Records at a Glance
Keweenaw County Sheriff's Office
The Keweenaw County Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement and police records for the county. The office is located at 5095 4th St., Eagle River, MI 49924, and the phone number is (906) 337-0501. Because Keweenaw County is very small and rural, the sheriff's office covers a wide geographic area with limited staff. There is no separate city police department. All county police records flow through the sheriff's office.
To request police records from the Keweenaw County Sheriff, you must submit a written FOIA request. The county does not have an online portal for FOIA submissions. You can mail your request to the sheriff's office at 5095 4th St., Eagle River, MI 49924, or deliver it in person during business hours. Include your name, address, phone number, and a clear description of the records you want. Give the date range, names, and any incident number you have.
Keweenaw County often works in coordination with Houghton County on law enforcement matters. The two counties share resources and jurisdiction on some calls, particularly in the more remote parts of the peninsula. If you are not sure which agency handled an incident, call the Keweenaw County Sheriff at (906) 337-0501 before submitting a request. They can tell you whether the records are held locally or by Houghton County.
The Michigan State Police website is a key resource for Keweenaw County residents. It provides access to ICHAT criminal history records, FOIA tools, and accident report purchasing for the entire state.
Michigan State Police in Keweenaw County
The Michigan State Police also serves Keweenaw County through its Upper Peninsula posts. MSP troopers respond to calls throughout the county and file their own reports separately from the sheriff's office. If the incident you are asking about involved MSP troopers rather than the county sheriff, the records will be held by the Michigan State Police, not by Keweenaw County.
To request records from the Michigan State Police, use the MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. You can submit requests online through MILogin, by email at MSPRecords@michigan.gov, or by mail to MSP, ATTN: FOIA Coordinator, P.O. Box 30634, Lansing, MI 48909. The same 5-business-day response rule applies.
The MSP FOIA page explains how to request records from state troopers who operate in Keweenaw County alongside the county sheriff. Use it when the MSP handled the incident.
How to File a FOIA Request in Keweenaw County
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL § 15.231 gives every person the right to request public records. No residency requirement applies. You do not need to say why you want the records. The law covers incident reports, arrest records, booking data, dispatch logs, and other law enforcement documents held by Keweenaw County.
Your request must be in writing. Mail it or deliver it to the Keweenaw County Sheriff's Office at 5095 4th St., Eagle River, MI 49924. Clearly describe the records you need: the type of record, date range, and names or case numbers involved. Under MCL § 15.235, the sheriff must respond within 5 business days. They may take up to 10 more business days by sending you written notice of the extension and the reason.
If your request is denied, the agency must say in writing which exemption under MCL § 15.243 applies. The most common exemptions are active investigations, personal privacy, and records that could put someone at risk. You have 180 days to appeal. Send the appeal to the head of the sheriff's office. If the appeal is denied, you can challenge the denial in circuit court. Courts have the power to award attorney fees if they find the denial was improper.
Note: Because Keweenaw County is very small, the sheriff's office may have limited staff to handle records requests. Be patient and follow up by phone if you do not hear back within the 5-day window.
Keweenaw County Records Request Fees
Keweenaw County follows the state fee schedule set by MCL § 15.234. Standard paper copies cost $0.10 per page. Labor is charged at the lowest-paid employee's hourly rate in 15-minute increments. No labor fee applies to searches that take under 15 minutes. For requests where the total estimate exceeds $50, the sheriff can ask for a 50% deposit up front.
Low-income requesters can apply for a fee waiver. Michigan law provides a $20 indigency discount when you file an affidavit showing you receive public assistance or cannot pay. You can claim this up to twice per calendar year. Ask for a cost estimate before submitting a request that might involve many records or a long date range.
Accident Reports in Keweenaw County
Traffic crash reports in Keweenaw County use the standard Michigan UD-10 form. If the Michigan State Police investigated the crash, you can purchase a copy through the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System. For crashes handled by the county sheriff, submit a FOIA request directly to the Keweenaw County Sheriff's Office.
Statewide Records Tools
The Internet Criminal History Access Tool, ICHAT, run by the Michigan State Police, lets you search criminal history records for any Michigan county. The fee is $10 per search. ICHAT covers felonies and serious misdemeanors from all 83 counties. It does not include traffic offenses or juvenile records. Access it at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat.
The Michigan Courts Case Search is free and lets you look up court records from any Michigan court. You can search by name or case number to see charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mipsor.state.mi.us is also free and covers the entire state including Keweenaw County. The Michigan Attorney General's FOIA guidance page at michigan.gov/ag/foia is useful if you need help understanding your rights or appealing a denial.
Michigan Courts Case Search covers court records tied to arrests and incidents in Keweenaw County. It is free and searchable by name or case number from any device.
Nearby Counties
Keweenaw County shares resources and borders with other Upper Peninsula counties. Each has its own sheriff and records process.