Access Ann Arbor Police Blotter

The Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) produces a police blotter covering all reported incidents and arrests in one of Michigan's most closely watched university cities. The department offers several public-facing tools for tracking crime data, including an interactive CLEMIS crime map, a weekly-updated crime dashboard, and a subscription-based crime alert system. Residents who need official records beyond what these tools provide can request them through Michigan's Freedom of Information Act process.

Ann Arbor Police Department

The Ann Arbor Police Department serves a mid-sized city in Washtenaw County that is home to the University of Michigan. The city's population swells significantly during the academic year, and the department manages a correspondingly varied mix of calls. The AAPD website is at a2gov.org/police-department.

Ann Arbor's geographic setting in southeast Michigan means it sees a different crime profile than the heavily industrial cities to its north. Theft, fraud, and drug offenses are common. Violent crime is lower than state averages for a city of its size. The university's presence also means the department coordinates with campus law enforcement on incidents that cross jurisdictional lines.

The AAPD is particularly notable among Michigan city police departments for its public data tools. Few agencies in the state offer the level of real-time and near-real-time crime information that Ann Arbor provides through CLEMIS and its own dashboard. These tools reduce the need to file individual FOIA requests for basic incident information.

For county-level court records and Washtenaw County law enforcement data, see Washtenaw County.

Online Crime Maps and the CLEMIS Public Crime Search

Ann Arbor offers one of the most accessible public crime search tools in Michigan. The CLEMIS Public Crime Search is available at a2gov.org/police-department/public-crime-search. It is a web-based interactive map that updates every 24 hours with data pulled directly from AAPD records. Users can map verified criminal activity near any address in the city and filter results by crime type and date range.

CLEMIS stands for Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System. It is a regional data-sharing system used across multiple southeastern Michigan counties. The public-facing version for Ann Arbor gives residents direct access to blotter-level data without the need to file a formal request.

In addition to CLEMIS, the AAPD maintains its own crime dashboard at annarborpolice.org/dashboard. This dashboard is updated weekly and provides aggregated views of crime patterns across different city zones. It is useful for trend analysis but does not show individual incident details.

A third-party site, a2crime.com, also aggregates verified crime data from CLEMIS and presents it with additional filtering and visualization tools. This site is not official but uses the same underlying CLEMIS data the city uses.

Residents can also subscribe to email crime alerts for activity near a specific address. This subscription service is a free public option that notifies you when incidents occur within a set radius of any location you designate. Contact AAPD directly through the city website to set up an alert.

How to Request Ann Arbor Police Blotter Records

For records not available through the CLEMIS map or the AAPD dashboard, the standard Michigan FOIA process applies. Submit a written request to the Ann Arbor Police Department through the city's FOIA process.

Include the following in your request:

• Date and time of the incident
• Location (address or intersection)
• Type of incident or crime
• Names of individuals involved, if known
• Case or report number, if available

The CLEMIS map can help you identify specific incidents before you file. Use it to find the date and location of an incident, then include those details in your written FOIA request to make the search as focused as possible.

For tips or reports about active matters, use the AAPD tip line at 734.794.6939 or email tips@a2gov.org. Crime Stoppers is also available at 800.SPEAK UP or 734.794.6932 for anonymous tips. These are not records request channels but can be useful if you are reporting activity rather than seeking information about past incidents.

The Michigan Courts Case Search is available for tracking cases that move from AAPD arrest to Washtenaw County court proceedings.

The Michigan offender tracking system and ICHAT criminal history tool supplement the Ann Arbor police blotter with statewide record information.

Michigan FOIA Law and Ann Arbor Police Records

Ann Arbor police blotter records are public documents under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. MCL 15.231 establishes the right of any person to inspect and receive copies of public records. The city and its police department cannot restrict access based on who is asking or why they want the information.

MCL 15.235 sets the response timeline. AAPD must respond within five business days. That response can approve the request, deny it, or extend the deadline with a written notice. Extensions must explain why more time is needed. Delays without notice are treated as a denial, which triggers your right to appeal.

Exemptions to disclosure are listed in MCL 15.243. Police records that may be withheld include active investigation materials, confidential informant identities, and victim information in certain sensitive case types. If the department withholds records, they must identify the exact exemption that applies to each withheld item or portion of a document. Blanket denials are not permitted under Michigan law.

Your appeal rights are in MCL 15.240. If AAPD denies your request and you believe the denial is wrong, you can appeal to the city first, then file in Washtenaw County circuit court. A court that finds an improper denial can order disclosure and award attorney fees. The full Michigan FOIA statute is at legislature.mi.gov.

Additional Criminal History and Court Resources

The state's Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) at apps.michigan.gov/ichat provides statewide criminal history records for $10. If you need to know whether an individual has a prior record anywhere in Michigan, ICHAT is the most direct official source. It covers felony and misdemeanor convictions across all Michigan counties, including Washtenaw.

Ann Arbor criminal cases that result in charges are processed through the Washtenaw County circuit court and district court systems. Case records are searchable through the Michigan Courts Case Search at courts.michigan.gov. You can search by name or case number and find hearing dates, charges, and case outcomes for any open or closed matter.

The Michigan State Police also include Ann Arbor in the annual Michigan Incident Crime Reporting data. These reports break crime counts down by municipality and by offense type, giving a year-by-year view of how Ann Arbor compares to similar cities in the state. MSP crime reports are published online and are free to access. For residents interested in longer historical trends, the FBI Crime Data Explorer also includes Ann Arbor going back many years.

Related Records and Nearby Areas

Ann Arbor is in Washtenaw County. County-level records and court data are available through Washtenaw County. No other qualifying cities are located in the immediate Washtenaw County area.