History, Mission Statement, & Service Area

Department History

Prior to Madison Heights becoming a City in 1955, police services in our area were provided by the Royal Oak Township Police Department and previously to that, the Oakland County Sheriff's Department. When the City of Madison Heights was incorporated in 1955, the "east side" Police Officers of Royal Oak Township were sworn in as City Police Officers. The first police station was housed at 26337 John R, and was shared by the "Justice Courts" and "License Bureau."

By 1960, the department had grown to 29 members and as a result the police station was moved to 26305 John R. It remained there until 1968 when a municipal complex was built near 13 Mile and John R. By that time, the Department had grown to 39 members. In the mid-1970s primarily due to Federal funding, the Department's size again increased. By 1977, the Department had grown to 70 sworn and civilian personnel. In 1991 the Police Department moved to its current location at 280 W 13 Mile Road.

Current Staff

Currently, the Police Department consists of 60 sworn officers, 9 civilian dispatchers (Police Service Assistants), and 4 clerical staff. The Madison Heights Police Department consists of a Uniform Patrol Division, a Detective Bureau, a Special Investigations Unit, a Crime Prevention Bureau, and an Auxiliary Services Unit. Located within the Uniform Patrol Division is a K9 Unit, Bicycle Patrol Unit, Motor Carrier Enforcement Unit, and Accident Investigation Team. All these components of the Police Department interact together as a team to proactively address problems within the community.

Mission Statement

The Madison Heights Police Department is committed to enhancing the quality of life and eliminating the fear of criminal activity within the community. We are a progressive organization devoted to maintaining citizen satisfaction and cooperation.
Recognizing our responsibility to maintain order while affording dignity and respect to every individual is a primary concern. Our commitment is to improve the quality of life through operating on the principles of quality leadership and a community partnership which promotes a safe and secure community.

Service Area

The Madison Heights Police Department serves the City of Madison Heights which is located near the southeast corner of Oakland County, adjacent to the western boundary of Macomb County, and approximately two miles north of the City of Detroit, Michigan. It covers an area of 7.25 square miles, and has a population of approximately 31,000 people.