By Amelia Anderson The Dearborn Police Department is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving the City of Dearborn, Michigan. It provides patrol response, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, neighborhood policing, emergency response, records services, school-related policing, specialized tactical support and other public-safety services within the city.
For an emergency or an incident requiring immediate police response, call 911. For non-emergency police assistance in Dearborn, call 313-943-3030. The non-emergency line is appropriate for situations that require police attention but do not involve an immediate threat to life or safety.
The department is a full-service municipal agency with more than 300 personnel and more than 180 sworn officers. It has also held accreditation through the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission since 2020.
Dearborn Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Dearborn Police Department |
| Police station | 16099 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency police | 313-943-3030 |
| Investigative Division | 313-943-2255 |
| Police FOIA / report questions | 313-943-2230 |
| Police FOIA fax | 313-943-3048 |
| Main organizational divisions | Administrative, Investigative and Patrol |
| County | Wayne County, Michigan |
| Online police reporting | Available for qualifying non-emergency incidents |
| Wayne County inmate information | 313-224-0797 |
| Wayne County Criminal Justice Center | 5301 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48211 |
Police and emergency functions operate continuously, while records, FOIA and other administrative services may follow separate business procedures or processing schedules.
Dearborn Police Department Address
The main Dearborn Police station is located at:
- 16099 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126
- Non-emergency: 313-943-3030
The station serves as the central location for police administration, front-desk reporting, patrol operations, investigative functions and a range of police services. Residents may also be directed there when an incident cannot be reported through the department’s online system.
People may contact or visit the department for matters such as:
- Filing an in-person police report
- Requesting non-emergency police assistance
- Obtaining information about police records or FOIA requests
- Reporting traffic or neighborhood concerns
- Asking about an existing police case
- Submitting a citizen complaint or concern
- Handling certain identification, vehicle, firearm or evidence-related reports that are not eligible for online filing
Dearborn Police Department Organization
Dearborn Police organizes its core work through three primary divisions:
- Administrative Division
- Investigative Division
- Patrol Division
These divisions are supported by specialized units that handle tactical incidents, traffic crashes, canine operations, bomb response, crisis negotiation, unmanned aircraft operations and other assignments requiring additional training or equipment.
Administrative Division
The Administrative Division supports both public-facing services and the internal systems needed for daily police operations. Its responsibilities include several units that residents may encounter directly as well as functions that support officers in the field.
Units and functions associated with the Administrative Division include:
- Critical Incident Community Support Unit
- Neighborhood Police Officers
- Traffic Unit
- Ordinance enforcement
- Animal Control
- Training Office
- Building and fleet management
- Police Records
- Information Technology
- Freedom of Information Act processing
- Intern and Explorer programs
- Reserve Officer Program
- Dispatch
This division therefore combines records and administrative work with community-facing services such as traffic, neighborhood policing and dispatch support.
Investigative Division
The Investigative Division handles follow-up investigations and specialized criminal cases that require work beyond the initial patrol response. The division’s general contact number is 313-943-2255.
Its units include:
- Detective Bureau
- Professional Standards Unit
- Auto Theft Unit
- Special Operations
- Narcotics Bureau
- Forensic Polygraph Unit
- Technical Investigation Unit
- Youth Bureau
- Property Room
- School Resource Officer Program
- Accreditation
- Emergency Management
- Crime Lab
Investigators may handle serious or complex crimes, develop evidence, conduct interviews, coordinate technical or forensic work and continue cases that began with an initial patrol report.
Patrol Division
The Patrol Division is the department’s largest and most visible operational division. Uniformed officers provide preventive patrol, traffic enforcement, general assistance and emergency response throughout Dearborn.
Patrol personnel work overlapping 12-hour shifts arranged around day and night platoons. This structure allows the department to maintain police response 24 hours a day.
Typical patrol responsibilities include:
- Responding to emergency calls
- Handling non-emergency calls for service
- Conducting preliminary investigations
- Protecting and assisting victims
- Securing incident and crime scenes
- Enforcing traffic and criminal laws
- Making arrests when legally appropriate
- Documenting incidents in police reports
- Providing visible patrol in residential and business areas
Specialized Police Units
Dearborn Police also maintains specialized support units for incidents or assignments that require additional capabilities beyond routine patrol.
These support units include:
- Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)
- Crisis Negotiation Team
- Bomb Squad
- Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Team
- Honor Guard
- Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team
- Police Reserve Officers
- Canine (K-9) Unit
The department also provides services such as traffic-complaint reporting, neighborhood issue reporting, vacation house checks and public-safety registry programs through the City of Dearborn’s police-services system.
What County Is Dearborn Police Department In?
The Dearborn Police Department is located in Wayne County, Michigan.
Dearborn Police is a city police agency and is separate from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. Dearborn officers are responsible for municipal policing within Dearborn, while the Sheriff’s Office performs county-level functions that include jail operations and inmate information.
This distinction is important when someone is trying to locate an arrested person. Police-report questions connected to a Dearborn incident generally belong with Dearborn Police, while questions about a person who has entered Wayne County jail custody should be directed to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office or its inmate-information service.
Filing a Dearborn Police Report
A Dearborn police report can be created when officers are dispatched to an incident. Reports can also be made at the front desk of the Dearborn Police Department at 16099 Michigan Ave.
Use 911 when there is an emergency. For a non-emergency situation requiring police assistance, call 313-943-3030.
The department also provides an online reporting system for certain non-emergency incidents. Online filing is not intended to replace direct contact with police when an officer is needed at the scene.
When Can a Dearborn Police Report Be Filed Online?
The Dearborn online reporting system is limited to incidents that meet specific conditions. The department states that online reporting should be used only when:
- The incident occurred within Dearborn city limits
- There is no suspect information
- There is no evidence that could lead to identification of a suspect
- The situation is not an emergency
Some types of incidents must be reported in person rather than online. These include lost or stolen identification such as a driver’s license, Social Security card or passport, and lost or stolen ATM, debit or credit cards. Stolen vehicles, license plates and firearms also must be reported in person.
If the online criteria are not met, residents should contact police or go to the police station rather than forcing the incident into the online system.
Obtaining a Dearborn Police Report
Copies of Dearborn police reports are handled through the Freedom of Information Act process. A FOIA request is a formal request for public records held by the Police Department.
For questions about police report copies or police FOIA requests, contact:
- Dearborn Police FOIA Unit
- Phone: 313-943-2230
- Email: Police-FOIA@dearborn.gov
- Fax: 313-943-3048
The City states that police FOIA requests may take approximately 5 to 15 business days to receive a response, depending on the request and whether additional processing time is required.
A useful records request should clearly identify the material being requested. When available, include information such as:
- Police incident or case number
- Date and approximate time of the incident
- Location of the incident
- Names of involved persons
- Type of report or record requested
- Contact information for the requester
Some law-enforcement information may be withheld or redacted when disclosure is restricted by law or when an exemption applies.
Dearborn Crash Reports
Traffic crash reports are handled differently from many other police records. Dearborn states that crash reports can be purchased online through the Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System (CLEMIS). Other types of police reports generally require a FOIA request.
For a crash-report search, a requester may need:
- The incident number shown on the crash slip, or identifying information for a driver involved
- Date of birth of an involved driver, owner or passenger
- Date of the crash
Traffic and Neighborhood Concerns
The City of Dearborn provides separate police-service options for recurring traffic problems and neighborhood concerns. These services are useful for issues that may require review or follow-up but are not active emergencies.
Examples may include recurring speeding concerns, traffic behavior at a particular location or neighborhood issues that residents want the department to review. An immediate dangerous driving situation should still be reported directly to police, and an emergency should be reported through 911.
Complaints About Dearborn Police Employees
The Dearborn Police Department accepts citizen complaints and concerns about employee conduct. A person wishing to make a complaint can complete the department’s citizen complaint form online or use the downloadable form.
Completed complaint forms may be emailed to:
Police-Complaints@dearborn.gov
Complaints may also be submitted in person at the Dearborn Police Station. The department states that in-person complaint submission is available 24 hours a day. Complaints and concerns can also be made anonymously.
A complaint is easier to review when it contains specific information such as:
- Date and time of the incident
- Location
- Officer or employee identification if known
- Police vehicle, badge, case or citation information if available
- Names of witnesses
- Photographs, recordings or other supporting material
- A clear description of what occurred
Wayne County Jail Information
Dearborn is located in Wayne County. County jail and inmate-information services are operated by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office rather than the Dearborn Police Department.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office lists the following central contact location:
- Wayne County Criminal Justice Center
- 5301 Russell Street
- Detroit, MI 48211
- Inmate information: 313-224-0797
The Sheriff’s Office also provides an online inmate-search service. If a person arrested in Dearborn has been transferred into Wayne County custody, questions about current housing, booking or release information should be directed to the county inmate-information system or the court handling the case.
The court of jurisdiction is the best source for the most current information about a specific charge, court case or bond type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Dearborn Police non-emergency number?
A: Call 313-943-3030 for non-emergency police assistance in Dearborn. Call 911 when there is an emergency or an immediate threat to life or safety.
Q: Where is the Dearborn Police Department located?
A: The main police station is at 16099 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, Michigan 48126.
Q: Can I file a Dearborn police report online?
A: Yes, but only for qualifying non-emergency incidents that occurred within Dearborn, have no suspect information and have no evidence that could identify a suspect. Several categories, including stolen vehicles, license plates, firearms and certain identification or payment cards, must be reported in person.
Q: How do I get a copy of a Dearborn police report?
A: Police report copies are generally requested through the Dearborn Police FOIA process. For police FOIA or report questions, call 313-943-2230.
Q: What county is the Dearborn Police Department in?
A: The Dearborn Police Department is in Wayne County, Michigan. Wayne County jail and inmate services are handled separately by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.