St. Clair Shores Police Department
27665 Jefferson Ave.
St. Clair Shores, MI 48081
586-445-5300

The St. Clair Shores Police Department has an authorized strength of 85 sworn officers, 11 Emergency Dispatchers and 6 civilian employees.

All calls for emergency police service: Call 9-1-1
Non-emergency police service:  Call (586) 445-5300

These personnel are organized into the following eight bureaus within the Department.

1. Patrol 2. Traffic 3. Detective 4. Juvenile 5. Narcotics 6. Special Investigations 7. Dispatch 8. Records

Each of the bureaus have functions and responsibilities that relate specifically to their training and expertise.  Following is a description of each of the bureaus and their duties.

Patrol Bureau

The Patrol Bureau is the largest bureau and considered to be the backbone of the Department.  Patrol consists of 3 Lieutenants, 6 Sergeants and 43 Patrol Officers.  They are scheduled on three shifts to provide 24 hour coverage.

Officers in the Patrol Bureau respond to all calls for service.  These calls range from minor public service assists to responding to the scene of homicides.  Between the extremes they handle almost every type of call imaginable.  They are first responders and handle these calls as necessary.  They create the initial incident report which is turned over to the appropriate follow-up bureau.

Traffic Bureau 445-5318

The Traffic Bureau is responsible for all matters involving vehicles on the streets and highways within the city.  This includes vehicle crashes and vehicle law enforcement.  The bureau consists of 1 Lieutenant, 5 officers and 18 School Crossing Guards.  Three officers are primarily assigned to residential street enforcement with 1 officer handling court proceedings and 1 being the newly formed K-9 unit.  They work at reducing the speeds of vehicles driving through residential neighborhoods and preventing accidents involving our children.  One officer is assigned as Weighmaster/Motor Carrier Officer.  His primary duty is to enforce laws regulating trucks that use our roads.  Areas of concern are overweight vehicles that damage the roads and safety violations that create hazards for others that use the roads.  

Several officers in the bureau also are trained in traffic crash investigation.  They investigate all serious traffic crashes and follow through with prosecutions.

18 school crossing guards provide safe street crossings for school age children.  They provide these services throughout the school year in all types of weather.  They are responsible for the fact that we have not had any children injured while crossing our major roads when going to school each day.

Detective Bureau 445-5305

The Detective Bureau is responsible for follow-up and prosecution of criminal complaints.  The bureau consists of 1 Lieutenant, 2 Sergeants, 6 Detectives and a secretary.  Once the Patrol Officer creates a criminal incident complaint, it is assigned to the Detective Bureau and the follow-up investigation is performed by the assigned detective.  Those complaints that are found to be with merit are taken to either the city attorney or county prosecutor for criminal prosecution.  The detective works closely with the complaining parties, involved officers, prosecutor and courts to follow through to completion.

Juvenile Bureau 445-5310

The Juvenile Bureau is a specialized unit within the Detective Bureau that works with those under the age of 17.  Michigan law considers anyone under the age of 17 to be considered a juvenile and criminal violations are handled separately from adults.  The Juvenile Bureau consists of 3 officers, each of which has been trained in the procedures and laws pertaining to juveniles and Juvenile Court.  Each of the officers is assigned to one of the school systems within the city and handles the incidents involving those students.

Narcotics 445-5323

Unfortunately, we live in a society where drug problems invade all aspects of society.  To counter these threats, the St. Clair Shores Police Department has a bureau that specializes in the detection and apprehension of those that are involved in the distribution and use of illegal drugs.  This bureau works closely with other agencies, local, county, state and federal, that are also involved in the fight against those that provide and use illegal drugs.

Special Investigations 445-5342

The Special Investigation Bureau handles investigations involving all liquor licenses in our city.  These include background investigations of all persons that have or are applying for a state liquor license and premise checks to assure that state and local liquor laws are being observed.

This bureau also handles any complaints against Police Officers.  Any complaint against an officer of this department is thoroughly investigated.

Dispatch

Our 11 dispatchers answer all telephone calls for service for our Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Service Departments.  Once receiving a request for service, they determine what type of response is necessary and assign responding units.  They also create the initial computer entry which is maintained for all calls for service.

Records Bureau 445-5315

Office hours:

The only contact that most citizens will have with the Police Department is in the Records Bureau.  The Records Bureau is where citizens would go to get copies of police reports, to license their dogs and cats, to apply and receive handgun purchase permits, public vehicle licenses, register home alarms, pick up applications to carry a concealed weapon and to apply for permanent overnight street parking permits.  All of these are handled by the people in Records. Each of the activities is discussed in detail in another part of this site.

It is also the area of the department that handles all of the records created by the police department. Information from incident reports is entered into the police department records management system and reports are created to supply statistics to the city, state and federal agencies.

All property that comes into the possession of the department is handled by the property officer.  Evidence from cases has to be accounted for properly to assure the integrity of that evidence.  Once court cases are resolved, the property is then disposed of in an appropriate manner.  This also includes confiscated and found property.

All patrol vehicles in the department are equipped with video cameras.  These cameras record all activity throughout the shift.  The tapes are then saved and used in court cases and to review incidents.  These tapes are also managed by the department property officer.

Additional duties handled by the officers in records are assuring department vehicles are maintained in operating condition, purchasing most items used in the operation of the department, maintaining the computer system and coordinating building maintenance.  The Records Bureau is staffed by 2 civilian clerks, 1 Lieutenant, 1 Sergeant and one Patrol Officer.

How to obtain information:

In this section we will give you the information necessary for those activities you may have to handle with the Police Department.

All calls for emergency police service: Call 9-1-1
Non-emergency police service:  Call (586) 445-5300

We encourage all calls for any type of Police, Fire or Ambulance response to be made to our dispatch center using the emergency number 9-1-1.  We have 2 dispatchers on duty at all times to take calls and dispatch responding personnel.  They determine the proper response that is needed and dispatch the appropriate units.  If you have a problem that you think may require a police, fire or ambulance response, call our dispatch center.  They will determine if a response is appropriate, or if not, who to contact.

Copies of reports

Copies of police incident reports and traffic accident reports are available in the Records Bureau of the Police Department. They are usually available the first business day that records is open after the incident. There is a charge for all reports and they are $5.00 per report for the first 3 pages and $1.00 for each additional page.

Dog and Cat Licenses

All dogs and cats in the city must be licensed.  In order to license your pet, you must produce proof of rabies vaccinations.  Licenses are due by May 14th of each year.  During this period the cost is $5.00.  After the due date, the price of the license increases to $10.00.  New pets acquired after the due date are licensed as a new pet at the original $5.00 rate.  Licenses for each year are available beginning the first business day after January 1st.

Handgun Purchase Permits

Michigan law requires that persons obtain a handgun purchase permit before any transfer of a handgun. The law allows only the registered owner of a handgun to have that gun in their possession.  Any transfer of ownership, no matter whether a sale for money, trade or even as a gift, the person receiving the handgun must obtain a purchase permit from their local police agency unless they have a CCW license that was issued after 7-01-2002.

The person that intends to obtain a handgun must first apply at the Records Bureau.  There is a application that must be completed and signed by the intended purchaser.  After the application is completed and signed, personnel in Records are required to perform a complete criminal background investigation.  No purchase permit can be issued to anyone that has been convicted of a felony. Also, federal law prohibits a person convicted of domestic assault from obtaining or possessing a handgun.  In cases where there is an assault on a person's record, they may be required to obtain copies of the original report and the court disposition.

License to Carry a Concealed Weapon

Licenses to carry a concealed weapon are issued by the Macomb County Gun Board.  Application to obtain the license are obtained through your local police agency.  

Overnight On-Street Parking

City ordinance prohibits parking of vehicles on city streets during the hours of 3:00 AM until 5:00 AM. The ordinance does allow permits to park on the street during that time for those people that do not have adequate room on the property to fit all of their vehicles.  Permits will not be available for residents' convenience.  Commercial vehicles are prohibited in residential areas overnight and will not be issued permits.

To apply for a permit, vehicle registrations must be produced for all vehicles registered at the home.  Once the registrations are provided, the property is inspected to assure that there is not adequate room.  If there is not adequate room, permits will be issued for those vehicles above what would fit in the driveway and garage.

For those times when there is a short term need for on street parking, such as driveway replacement or out of town company that requires on street parking, a temporary permit can be issued.  A temporary permit can be issued at the front desk of the police department, 24 hours a day.

Alarm Registration

All business and residential alarms in St. Clair Shores must be registered through the Police Department. (City Ordinance 19.700) A copy of the Ordinance and Alarm Registration Forms can be picked up from the record Bureau during normal business hours. The Alarm Registration Form may also be downloaded from this web site for your convenience.  Registration Forms can then be filled out and mailed back to the Police Department along with the registration fee.

Click Here to download the Alarm Ordinance

Click Here to download the Alarm Registration Form

Burned-out Street Lights

A list of burned-out street lights is kept by the Chief's Secretary.  To report a burned-out street light call the Chief's Secretary at 445-5320.  She will add the light to the list and Detroit Edison is notified to make repairs.

Crime Prevention:

Watch Out For Scams!

Tips for Preventing Scams:

1. When someone you don’t know knocks at the door, talk through the screen door. Don’t open it.  The scam artist tends to stand off to the side, forcing the home owner to open the door.

2. Install better latches or eye hooks on the storm door to help prevent the chances the door will be pulled open.

3. Check to see how many people are at the door.  It is possible one person is at the front door and another at the side door.  When one gains entry, he/she will open the door for the other.

4. Ask for identification, a badge or personal identification cards and examine them closely.   St. Clair Shores employees wear identifying badges that have their pictures on it.

5. If you are still uncertain, ask for a telephone number to verify employment.  If the person is supposed to be there, he/she will wait.

6. Check vehicle or truck for appropriate logo. If no vehicle is present, question him/her about his lack of equipment.

7. If things don’t look right, call the police.

8. Keep an eye on your neighbor’s home and ask neighbors to keep an eye on your home.

9. Write down any suspicious vehicle license number that is not familiar in the neighborhood and report it to the police.

Numbers to Call to Identify Utility Company Workers

Detroit Edison: 1-800-477-4747

Consumers Power: 1-800-477-5050

Ameritech or Phone Company: Call local operator (dial 0) and they can assist you.