The Dearborn Heights City Council voted Nov. 25 to renew its Cellebrite phone‑data service contract and to include phone unlocking capability, approving an amended contract of $15,535 funded from the department's forfeiture account.

Police staff reported that State Police and neighboring agencies frequently have multi‑month backlogs to unlock phones, creating investigative delays. "The turnaround time for the State Police is about 3 to 4 months," a police representative told the council. Council members argued that quicker access to device data is crucial in serious investigations, including assaults, homicides and threats. Councilman Saab said public safety justified the higher amount and moved to amend the renewal to include unlocking; the motion carried.

Council discussed the tradeoff between conserving forfeiture funds and improving investigative capacity. Officials said the city used forfeiture funds for Cellebrite previously and noted the account's balance; some members urged caution about depleting those funds while others prioritized immediate investigative needs. The motion to approve $15,535 (including 15 unlocks in the vendor package) was seconded and adopted by voice vote.