Mobile Fingerprint Scanner

                How do you know a person is lying about who they say they are? What if they don’t have a driver’s license or are wanted for a previous crime committed? Introducing the latest tool the Canton Police Department has implemented, the Data Works Plus Rapid-ID. The Canton Police Department is now among the growing number of Georgia agencies utilizing fingerprint matching technology to aid in criminal identification. Rapid-ID technology will use suspect fingerprints to search local databases in order to reveal possible aliases, physical descriptions and possibly mugshots. “The Rapid-ID also gives alerts to us if a person is on the sexual offender registry. They may try to lie about their identity if they are found to be in a location they should not be.”- Sergeant Rodney Campbell. The logic is that most criminals are already in your local databases. The technology is immediate and accurate. When the information captured by the device is compared against local and national databases come back with no hits, the information is then discarded. Rapid-ID use has already been beneficial to other Georgia law enforcement agencies. According to a report made by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, over fifty percent of the checks performed by Rapid-ID have resulted in hits for people already in local databases. The Rapid-ID technology will serve as a “double-check” tool for our officers.

“It is another tool we can use to help identify a person. We have had instances where a person has used their roommate’s ID when they have gotten in trouble with the authorities causing problems for the person who’s ID was stolen. With the scanner, we can quickly make a positive ID of a person using a fingerprint.” –Sergeant Rodney Campbell

Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events

Are you prepared for an active shooter?  Please join us to learn how you can better prepare yourself for the unimaginable.

The City of Canton Police Department, in partnership with Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and Canton First United Methodist Church, will be hosting a community training program for Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events. This course is designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend strategy that was developed by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center located at Texas State University. Agency Instructors will be teaching this instruction that is designed to provide strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. 

This event is open to all citizens. Seating will be at a premium and on a first come – first serve basis.  Children are welcome to attend but parental guidance is strongly recommended as some of the presented material will contain scenes that are sensitive to some viewers.

Monday, June 20, 2016

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Canton First United Methodist Church 

930 Lower Scott Mill Rd. Canton GA 30115

Media Invited to Active Shooter Training

The Canton Police Department will be conducting Advance Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALEERT) and you’re invited.  The media will be given the opportunity to film and learn more about law enforcement efforts to prepare for the worst.  This training was scheduled prior to the recent active shooting event in Orlando FL (6/12/2016). 

This dynamic course of instruction is designed to prepare the first responder to isolate, distract, and neutralize an active shooter.  The course curriculum includes weapon manipulation, threshold evaluation, concepts and principles of team movement (including solo officer strategies), setting up for room entry and room entry techniques, approach and breaching the crisis site, follow-on responder tactics, improvised explosive devices (IED's), and post-engagement priorities of work.  The course will culminate with dynamic “force-on-force” scenarios.  This 8 hour training will give you the opportunity to witness the swift and immediate response that reflects the new kind of training used by law enforcement to engage a shooter.  You will also learn about the logistics planning to evacuate survivors and wounded.  The training will use active shooter role players using realistic weapons (Simunition®). 

When:          Monday-Friday this week (6/13-6/17) – choose one day to attend

8:00 am until 5:00 pm

Where:        The former Tippens Elementary School located at 8 Glenwood St., Canton Ga 30014.

Reservation: To reserve a spot at the training please contact:

    

     PIO Pacer Cordry

     Pacer.cordry@canton-georgia.com

     678-852-4753

A multi-agency Active Shooter training is also being planned to prepare for each agency’s role within multiple responding agencies event at some point in the future.

Chief of Police Mark J. Mitchell stated, “Our agency just like the other departments in Cherokee County is working hard to prepare and be ready for an Active Shooter Event.  This vital training along with the Citizen Response to Active Shooter Training (CRASE) that all jurisdictions in our County have offered, not only ensures our citizens are prepared but makes certain that our dedicated Officers have the training they need to respond, react, contain and neutralize this type of threat in order to protect / serve the citizens in our community.”   

Home Invasion Arrest

On June 04, 2016, at approximately 4:00 am, Canton Police Officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Lakeview Drive where a 911 caller reported that her ex-boyfriend, Christopher Simmons had kicked in her apartment door and threatened her with a knife.  The caller was in her home with her child during the incident. Officers arrived and observed damage to the victim’s door and vehicle.  Mr. Simmons left the scene prior to the Officers arrival.

While investigating the case, Officers located Mr. Simmons behind a building in the area and placed him under arrest.  Mr. Simmons was found to have marijuana in his pocket at the time of his apprehension.

Chief of Police, Mark J. Mitchell, added, "Our alert Officers worked quickly to arrest the suspect in this dangerous incident before any further harm was done to the family or citizens who live in the area.  The apprehension of the suspect furthers our goal to improve the quality of life for each and every segment of our Community."

Arrest information:

Mr. Christopher Simmons of Canton Georgia, age 25, was arrested and charged with Home Invasion, Aggravated Assault, Criminal Trespass, Cruelty to Children and Possession of Marijuana.

Drug Arrest

On June 03, 2016, at 4:21 pm, a Canton Police Officer conducted a traffic stop near Marietta Highway and North Etowah Dr.  While speaking with the three occupants in the car the officer smelled the odor of marijuana.  The Officer began investigating and subsequently seized approximately a half pound of marijuana, 20 grams of methamphetamine and $1,800.00 dollars in cash.  The investigation resulted in the arrest of Angel Enrique Aquino who was then transported to the Cherokee Adult Detention Center.

Arrest information:

Mr. Angel Enrique Aquino of Canton Georgia

Age 19

Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute

Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. 

Coffee with a Cop

The Police Department’s next Coffee with a Cop community event will be held on       Wednesday, June 22, 2016, from 8:00  -  10:00 am., at the Dunkin Donuts located at 121 Marietta Highway, Canton, Ga.  This program continues to grow and allows the agency and citizens to connect, engage and build important trusting relationships that are vital to           improving the quality of life for everyone in the community.

Chief Mark J. Mitchell stated, “These events bring our Officers and the public together in a very relaxed and informal environment to talk transparently about issues that we face in our community.  I want to thank our citizens for their support and feedback which greatly assist us in providing better police services to those we serve.  Additionally, this time together also “humanizes the badge” to both adults and children and our hope is our citizens will see that we truly care about them, their quality of life and what goes on in our City.”

Chief Mitchell added, “I would like to thank Dunkin Donuts and their management team for    agreeing to host such an important community event.”    

Officers Save Man's Life

Life Saving Award Update:

On Thursday, June 2, 2016, at 6:00PM, Officer Jimmy Butler, Officer Patrick Duncan and Ms. Karen Camps will receive the prestigious Life-Saving Award presented by Chief Mitchell during the City of Canton Council Meeting at City Hall located at 151 Elizabeth St., Canton, Ga.  Mr. Justin Marion, whose life was saved, and his family will be on hand to assist with the award presentations.

Previous Press Release: May 13, 2016

On April 26, 2016, just before 5:00 pm., Officer Jimmy Butler and Officer Patrick Duncan were dispatched to the report of a person down at the Crossfit Canton Gym located at 857 Hickory

Flat Highway, Canton, Ga.  Upon arrival, Officers learned that a forty-one (41) year old male by the name of Justin Marion had collapsed during a workout and CPR was in progress by the co-owner of the gym a Ms. Karen Camps.  Officer Duncan responded into the business with his assigned Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED) as Officer Butler took over and began performing CPR.

Furthermore, Officer Duncan quickly prepped the unresponsive male for AED deployment as Officer Butler maintained CPR and Ms. Camps continued to tell Mr. Marion to breathe and to “stay with us!”  Once the AED was ready, Officer Duncan administered one (1) shock from the device which immediately through an automated voice told Officers to continue CPR.  Officer Butler performed CPR as the AED automated voice advised to push down harder during the procedure.  At that time, Ms. Camps stated, “That’s right, breath Justin!”  The citizen slowly   began to breath and open his mouth.  Canton Fire Fighters arrived and took over treatment of Mr. Marion who was transported to Northside – Cherokee Hospital for further critical care. 

We were later advised by medical personnel that Mr. Marion had suffered a heart attack and was found to have a substantial blockage to an artery in his heart and he would not have   survived if it weren’t for the efforts of the gym owner and our Officers with the AED. 

Chief of Police Mark J. Mitchell said, “Our Officers and Ms. Camps were extremely calm, collected and worked as a team during this serious life or death situation.  We are very happy that Mr. Marion is on his way to recovery.  The addition of the AED to our fleet further enhances our abilities to protect, serve and improve the Quality of Life for our Community.”