Charlevoix County Police Reports

Choose the agency that created the record

Charlevoix County police reports are not held in one universal police-record system. The correct request route depends on the law-enforcement agency that created the report. Determine the creating agency from the incident location, reporting agency, and the specific record requested before submitting a request.

The City of Charlevoix Police Department and Charlevoix County Sheriff each provide separate public-record request routes. These agencies are not a universal source for every criminal, court, arrest, custody, or disposition record. If the task is a court outcome or current custody status rather than a police report, use the responsible court or detention custodian instead of treating a report as a conviction.

The Charlevoix County Sheriff FOIA route is available through the Sheriff records process. Contact information: 1000 Grant St, Charlevoix, MI 49720; 231-547-4461; administration hours are weekdays 8-5.

Request an existing police report through FOIA

The City of Charlevoix FOIA route is available through its public-record process. City contact information is 210 State St, Charlevoix, MI, with phone 231-547-3258 and weekday office hours of 8-5.

A requester should provide a complete name, postal address, telephone number or email address, and identify the existing report or attachment requested. Include useful record details such as the incident date, location, report number if known, and other information that helps the City identify the requested record.

The City provides an online FOIA form, but city policy also allows a sufficiently descriptive written request. The request should preserve the requested record details and the communication trail, including the request, response, and any reference number.

FOIA response timing is generally five business days with a possible ten-business-day extension. This is a response period, not a guarantee that records will be delivered within that period.

Available fulfillment options may include copies, certified copies, inspection, pickup, mail, email, or City digital media where available. Digital fulfillment depends on technological capability. If a requested format is unavailable, ask the custodian about an available alternative.

The City Police FOIA page states that a requester may need to resubmit after 30 days when the requested record is not yet closed by City Police, the County Prosecuting Attorney, or the 90th District Court. This is a record-status condition, not a universal FOIA response deadline.

Fees, copies, and fulfillment limits

City FOIA requests may include itemized charges. Standard paper copies are $0.10 per sheet plus applicable labor, media, and postage costs. Estimated fees over $50 require a 50% deposit before processing continues.

The City FOIA process requires applicable fees to be paid before records are released. Fee amounts and charges should be identified through the applicable estimate and itemization process.

The Sheriff FOIA route may include compilation-based charges. Sheriff requests use the FOIA form requesting the request date, contact information, relationship to the matter, and information sought.

Some requested information may be withheld or redacted, including exempt personal information or investigative information. A police report request does not guarantee an entirely unredacted copy.

If a requested portion or delivery format is unavailable, ask the holding office about an available alternative. Keep the request, response, and any reference number to support follow-up. A withheld or unfinished record does not prove that no incident occurred.

Crash reports and corrections

Crash reports are separate from incident reports. The Charlevoix County Sheriff crash-report route lists a $5 fee for in-person, mail, or phone requests. Reports are usually available within 10 business days. Mail requests should include available complaint number, date, time, and names.

City accident reports have a separate route. The City lists a $15 fee, an estimated 5-7 day timeframe, photo ID, payment, and crash form requirements. The request also includes relationship and signature requirements and a first-30-day nonsolicitation acknowledgment.

Michigan MSP Traffic Crash Purchasing System uses MiLogin. The current crash-report purchase route has a separately scoped $15 fee and requires driver-license information or a case/incident number, plus date of birth and crash date. If the required lookup information is unavailable, use the applicable FOIA route instead.

A City FOIA denial or excessive-fee decision follows the applicable written appeal route to the City Council with stated reasons. This City Council appeal route applies to City FOIA decisions and does not describe Sheriff or MSP processes. A factual error in the report itself is different from a FOIA appeal and should be directed to the agency that created the record.