Macomb County Police Records

Macomb County police records are public documents maintained by the Macomb County Sheriff's Office in Mt. Clemens and by numerous local police departments serving the county's cities and townships. Macomb County is one of Michigan's most populous counties, located northeast of Detroit, and its agencies collectively handle a high volume of incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and booking data each year. This page covers how to search and request Macomb County police records, which agencies hold different types of records, and what state and county online tools are available.

Macomb County Sheriff's Office Records

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office is located at 43565 Elizabeth Rd., Mt. Clemens, MI 48043, and the main number is (586) 469-5151. The sheriff's office website at macombgov.org is a central hub for county services including records requests. The sheriff handles incident reports, arrest records, jail booking data, and warrant information for unincorporated areas and townships throughout Macomb County. The county jail maintains active inmate data accessible through the county's online tools.

Macomb County has an established FOIA submission process. You can submit your request online through the county's FOIA portal at macombgov.org/departments/corporation-counsel/macomb-county-foia-requests. You can also email requests to foia@macombgov.org. Written requests by mail go to Macomb County Corporation Counsel at the county administration address. The online portal allows you to submit, track, and receive responses in one place. This is the fastest method for most requesters.

Macomb County is home to many cities and townships with their own police departments. Warren, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, Macomb Township, and dozens of smaller municipalities each maintain their own records. If the incident happened inside any of those jurisdictions, the relevant city or township department holds those records, not the county sheriff. Call the sheriff at (586) 469-5151 if you are not sure which agency handled the call.

The MSP website provides access to ICHAT criminal history records, the Traffic Crash Purchasing System, and FOIA tools for state-level records that supplement what the Macomb County Sheriff holds locally.

Filing a FOIA Request for Macomb County Records

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL § 15.231 et seq. gives any person the right to request public records. No residency requirement applies. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The law covers incident reports, arrest records, booking data, dispatch logs, and other law enforcement documents maintained by any Macomb County agency.

The fastest way to file is through the county's online FOIA portal at macombgov.org or by emailing foia@macombgov.org. Both methods allow you to track the status of your request. If you prefer, you can mail a written request to the Corporation Counsel's office. Your request must include your name, contact information, and a clear description of what you want. Include the record type, date range, names involved, and case or incident numbers if you have them.

Under MCL § 15.235, the agency must respond within 5 business days. They can extend this by up to 10 more business days with written notice. Under MCL § 15.243, records may be withheld for active investigations, personal privacy, or public safety. If your request is denied, ask for the specific exemption in writing. You have 180 days to appeal. If the county-level appeal fails, you can challenge the denial in Macomb County Circuit Court.

Macomb 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 who can do the task, billed in 15-minute increments. No labor fee applies to searches that take under 15 minutes. Fringe benefits may be added at up to 50% of the labor rate. For requests with an estimated cost over $50, the county can ask for a 50% deposit before work begins.

Indigent requesters can apply for a $20 fee waiver by filing an affidavit of indigency with their request. The affidavit must show you receive public assistance or cannot pay. This waiver is available up to twice per calendar year. Always ask for a written cost estimate before submitting a large or complex request to the Macomb County Sheriff or the county FOIA office.

Macomb County's online FOIA portal at macombgov.org follows the same state rules shown here. Email foia@macombgov.org or use the online form for the fastest response to your police records request.

Traffic Crash Reports in Macomb County

Michigan crash reports use the UD-10 form. If the Michigan State Police investigated the crash, purchase a copy through the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System. For crashes handled by the Macomb County Sheriff or a local city department, submit a FOIA request to the responding agency. Large city departments in Macomb County like Warren PD and Sterling Heights PD each handle their own crash report requests.

Third-party services like LexisNexis BuyCrash at buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com and ReportBeam at reportbeam.com provide faster access to Michigan crash reports without a formal FOIA request. Reports are typically ready 7 to 10 days after the incident. These services are widely used by insurance companies and legal professionals in the Metro Detroit area.

ReportBeam and similar platforms provide a faster path to Macomb County accident reports compared to a formal FOIA request. Reports are often ready within a week of the crash date.

Statewide Tools That Cover Macomb County

ICHAT, the Internet Criminal History Access Tool run by the Michigan State Police, covers felonies and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties including Macomb. The fee is $10 per search at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat. ICHAT does not cover traffic offenses, juvenile records, or records from other states.

The Michigan Courts Case Search is free and covers court records from Macomb County's 16th Circuit Court and local district courts. Search by name or case number to see charges, hearings, and outcomes. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mipsor.state.mi.us is free and statewide. OTIS at mdocweb.state.mi.us covers people in state prison or on parole. The Michigan Attorney General's FOIA resources at michigan.gov/ag/foia help with questions and appeals.

Michigan Courts Case Search covers all Macomb County court records from the 16th Circuit Court and local district courts. It is free to use and searchable online by name or case number.

The MSP FOIA page explains how to request records from state troopers who operate in Macomb County. Use it when an MSP post handled the incident rather than the county sheriff or a local city department.

Cities in Macomb County

Macomb County has several large cities with their own police departments that maintain records separately from the county sheriff.

Nearby Counties

Macomb County borders other southeast Michigan counties. Each has its own sheriff's office and records process.