Police Freedom Of Information Act Request

On average, the City of Detroit receives over 7,500 FOIA requests per year.

All FOIA requests must be in writing and describe a public record sufficiently to enable the public body to find the public record.  (MCL15.231 et seq.) 

For your convenience, you may now electorally submit your Police FOIA Request using this LINK. You will receive immediate confirmation of receipt and can choose to have a copy of your request sent to your email address.

While using the above link is the quickest way to submit your Police FOIA request, there are other options available. Although no specific form is required to submit a FOIA request to the City of Detroit, the City has a Police FOIA Request Form specifically for your use and convenience. Please note that failure to provide the information in the Form may result in a processing delay or denial of the request. Police FOIA requests include the Detroit Police Department, Board of Police Commissioners, and Office of Chief Investigator.

  • You must provide your full name and mailing address. 
  • Requests cannot be made in the name of a company; a company representative must be identified.
  • If you know which DPD unit, division, precinct or officer has the requested record, please identify them.
  • If you have the police report number, please provide the report number.
  • The more descriptive and specific your request is, the easier it would be for DPD personnel to search and retrieve the requested record(s).
  • Please try to avoid “any and all”. If your request is too broad, DPD personnel who will be searching and retrieving the record(s) will most likely encounter difficulties in locating the record(s).
  • If the scope of your request is too broad for DPD personnel to locate the requested record(s), your request may be denied or you may be presented with a request for a deposit payment.
  • Please use this LINK. If you are not using the link, your request should include the word "FOIA" or "FOIA Request".

The following information is required to search for police records:

  1. A comprehensive description of the document(s) you are seeking and
  2. Time frame and/or date(s),if appropriate.

Without this information, your request may be denied as such information is necessary to conduct a search for the record(s).

For additional information, including processing of FOIA requests, fees/costs, and appeals, please refer to the FOIA Procedures and Guidelines  and the sample FOIA Fee Estimate Form. 

While preferred by the City, if you choose not to use the link to submit your request electronically. You may submit your Police FOIA Request Form (or written request) to the City of Detroit in one of the following ways.

        1. U.S. Mail or hand delivery to                                         ;
        City of Detroit Law Department
        Coleman A. Young Municipal Building
        2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500
        Detroit, Michigan 48226    

       2.  Fax No.:        313-224-5505
       3. Email Address:     [email protected]

 

Note: If the FOIA request is for medical records, such as ambulance or an EMS run sheets, compliance with both federal HIPAA regulations and the Michigan Medical Records Access Act is required.