Detective Bureau

The Detective Bureau has primary responsibility for conducting criminal investigations into crimes occurring within the City of Dearborn Heights. Whenever an arrest is made by an officer of the department for a criminal offense or when a criminal case report is filed by a citizen, a detective is assigned to conduct a follow-up investigation into the incident. Criminal investigations include interviewing possible suspects, obtaining witness statements, and gathering further evidence. If sufficient evidence exists, the detective will submit a warrant request to the city or county prosecutor, as appropriate. During the criminal prosecution of cases, the assigned detective is the Officer in Charge of the case and appears as necessary in court during the different phases of the judicial process.

Helpful Information

Domestic Violence

Information about emergency shelters, counseling services, and the legal rights of domestic violence victims is available from the following resources in Wayne County:

  • Interim House (Downtown)
    Phone: 313-861-5300
  • First Step (West Side)
    Phone: 734-459-5900
  • Family Violence Helpline
    Phone: 800-996-6228

Personal Protection Orders

To obtain a Personal Protection Order (PPO) against a person, follow these easy steps:

  1. Respond to
    The Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (formerly the City-County Building) is located at
    2 Woodward Ave
    Detroit, Mi 48226
    (corner of Woodward and Jefferson in downtown Detroit).
    Phone: 313-224-6291 or 313-224-6262
  2. Bring
    1. Cash for any expenses (Court will not take personal checks)
    2. Name and address of the offender.  Also, if possible, their social security number and driver's license number
    3. History of recent abuse and/or stalking (month/year of each incident and month/year of police complaints
    4. Reason PPO is needed (fear of life, continued stalking, etc.)
    5. Proof of income
  3. Once there, proceed to Room B57 on the basement level
    1. Tell an advocate that you want an ex-parte PPO and are low-income (if applicable)
    2. The advocate will give you the necessary forms and an instruction booklet
    3. You will then be directed to Room B61 (on the basement level) 
    4. Your paperwork will be checked in Room B61 and upon approval, you will be directed to Room 201
    5. Upon entering Room 201, respond to the counter where a clerk will assist you
    6. The clerk will assign a judge and a case number and make stickers to attach to your paperwork
    7. Proceed to the courtroom of the judge you are assigned
    8. Take your paperwork to the judge's clerk to have your paperwork reviewed
    9. Once the judge signs the PPO it becomes valid, however, it needs to be served on the offending party
    10. If you want the PPO served by the Wayne County Sheriff's Department, go to the 17th floor
    11. Keep the "Moving Party" (pink copy) with you at all times
  4. What to do if the restrained person violates your PPO:
    1. Dial 911 if the person is at the same location as you are
    2. If the person is not currently at your location, call or proceed to your local police department and file a report
    3. For additional information regarding PPOs, go to the Dearborn Heights Police Department front desk and request a PPO informational packet.

Status of Case

Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of criminal investigations, information or the status of open investigations will not be provided over the Internet/email. If you are the victim of a crime and want to check the status of your case then please call the detective assigned to the case during normal Detective Bureau business hours (8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday,). If you do not know which detective is assigned to your case, please contact the Records Bureau to obtain the name of the detective. For more efficient service, please have the case number of your case available if you know it.

Bad Checks

The Detective Bureau investigates fraudulent and counterfeit checks. Bad checks involving insufficient/non-sufficient funds, closed accounts,s or no accounts are handled through the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office Check Enforcement Program. For further information, you can contact the Check Enforcement Program at 1-800-701-9486 or visit their website Hotchecks.Net.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a frightening and overwhelming experience if it does happen to you. Identity theft occurs when someone wrongfully uses your personal identification to obtain credit, loans, services, even rentals and mortgages in your name. They may even commit crimes while impersonating you, and you may not know it is happening for months or years. There are many ways to steal private information about you (i.e., anyone who has access to your social security number and other identifying information.) All of these offices have your information: Your doctor, accountant, lawyer, loan officer, health insurance, schools, courts, etc. Remember, you don't have to lose your wallet or have it stolen to become a victim of identity theft.

The Dearborn Heights Police Department recommends that you take the following actions immediately:

  1. Obtain a copy of your credit history from one of the three main credit reporting bureaus. 
  2. Review your credit history and make sure there are no accounts opened or charges made that are fraudulent.
  3. Should you find any fraudulent activity, notify the credit source, (i.e. Visa, Citibank, etc.)
  4. Make police reports in jurisdictions where actual fraud occurred.

Copies of police reports generated by the Dearborn Heights Police Department may be obtained at the Records Bureau.

Prevention Measures

  1. Buy a cross-cut type shredder. Shred all your important papers and especially pre-approved credit applications received in your name and other financial information that provides access to your private information. Don't forget to shred your credit card receipts.
  2. Be careful of "Dumpster Diving." Make sure that you do not throw anything away that someone could use to become you. Anything with your identifiers must be shredded (cross-cut) before throwing away.
  3. Be careful at ATMs and using phone cards. "Shoulder Surfers" can get your "Pin Number" and get access to your accounts.
  4. Get all of your checks delivered to your bank - not to your home address.
  5. Do not put checks in the mail from your home mailbox. Drop them off at a U.S. Mailbox or the U.S. Post Office. Mail theft is common. It's easy to change the name of the recipient on the check with an acid wash.
  6. When you order new credit cards in the mail, or your previous ones have expired, watch the calendar to make sure that you get the card within the appropriate time. If it is not received by a certain date, call the credit card grantor immediately and find out if the card was sent.  Find out if a change of address was filed if you don't receive the card or a billing statement.
  7. Cancel all credit cards that you do not use or have not used in 6 months. Thieves use these very easily - open credit is a prime target.
  8. Put passwords on all your accounts and do not use your mother's maiden name. Make up a fictitious word.
  9. Empty your wallet of all extra credit cards and social security numbers, etc. Do not carry any identifiers you do not need. Don't carry your birth certificate, social security card, or passport, unless necessary.
  10. Memorize social security numbers and passwords.
  11. When a person calls you at home or at work, and you do not know this person, never give out any of your personal information. If they tell you they are a credit grantor of yours call them back at the number that you know is the true number, and ask for that party to discuss personal information. Provide only information that you believe is absolutely necessary.
  12. Do not put your social security number on your checks or your credit receipts. If a business requests your social security number, give them an alternate number and tell them why. They do not need that to identify you. If a government agency requests your social security number, there must be a privacy notice accompanying the request. 13. Do not put your telephone number on your checks.
  13. Get credit cards and business cards with your picture on them.
  14. Do not put your credit card account number on the Internet (unless it is encrypted on a secured site.) Don't put account numbers on the outside of envelopes, or on your checks.
  15. When you are asked to identify yourself at schools, employers, or any other kind of institutional identification, ask to have an alternative to your social security number. Unfortunately, your health insurance carrier often uses your social security number as your identification number. Try to change that if you can.
  16. In conjunction with a credit card sale do not put your address, telephone number, or driver's license number on the statement.
  17. Monitor all your bank statements from every credit card every month. Check to see if there is anything that you do not recognize and call the credit grantor to verify that it is truly yours.
  18. Order your credit report at least twice a year (I have enclosed the addresses for you on the sample letter.) Review it carefully. If you see anything that appears fraudulent, immediately put a fraud alert on your reports by calling the numbers below.
  19. Immediately correct all mistakes on your credit reports in writing. Send those letters Return Receipt Requested, and identify the problems item by item with a copy of the credit report back to the credit reporting agency. You should hear from them within 30 days.
  20. Take your name off all promotional lists. Call 888-567-8688 or go to one of the three credit reporting agency websites to opt out of pre-approved offers. Experian: www.experian.com   Equifax: www.equifax.com  Transunion: www.transunion.com 
  21. Write to your State and Federal Legislators to demand stronger privacy protection. Also, ask that identity theft be considered a crime in your State. Demand that the State Finance and Banking Committees pass legislation to protect consumers from negligent bank and credit reporting practices.
  22. Consider making your phone an unlisted number or just use an initial.
  23. Make a list of all your credit card account numbers and bank account numbers (or photocopy) with customer service phone numbers, and keep it in a safe place. (Do not keep it on the hard drive of your computer if you are connected to the Internet.)

Source: Identity Theft and Privacy Expertise of Mari J. Frank Mari is an attorney and the author of the Identity Theft Survival Kit (Porpoise Press, Inc.1998, 2000). She has provided oral and written testimony and has published many articles regarding privacy and identity theft issues.

For more information visit the National Council On Identity Theft Protection Website.