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.”

Terroristic Threats Arrest

On Friday, May 13, 2016 at 10:00 am., the Woodstock Police Department disseminated an Officer Safety Alert to all surrounding Law Enforcement Agencies in reference to threats made against Officers on Facebook. A Woodstock Officer took a report earlier that morning from a concerned citizen who observed a threatening post on the Facebook page of a Mr. Chase Adcock. The post relayed, “Die Pigs” and this person did not care who was an Officer because he would “Unload” on Officers and make them second guess their careers when they “Die as their lungs fill with blood from a Saturday Night Special.” After further assistance from the Woodstock Police Department and the Holly Springs Police Department, the individual by the name of Chase Adcock was determined to have a last known address in the City of Canton.

Canton Officers along with Detectives began to immediately gather further intelligence information on the individual and began looking for him in the area of his identified residence.
Just after 2:30 pm., Canton Officers located Chase Adcock as he was sitting on a bench inside the Canton Paw Park off Juniper Street. The male was quickly detained and transported to the department for further questioning.

After further investigation and an interview of the suspect, Mr. Chase Adcock age: 21 of Canton was arrested and charged with Terroristic Threats and Acts.

Chief Mark J. Mitchell stated, “I would like to thank the reporting citizen, the Woodstock Police Department and the Holly Springs Police Department for their assistance with this investigation. We take threats like this very seriously. I am grateful that we were able to bring a quick and safe resolution to this matter without harm coming to any of the Law Enforcement personnel who faithfully serve this community and citizens in Cherokee County".