Canton Police Welcomes New Officer

Canton Police held a swearing-in ceremony for its newest Officer, Tyler Schluter. He was sworn into the department by Judge Thomas A. Roach Jr. on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at Canton City Hall. Family, friends and other members of the Canton Police force were in attendance to show their support. Officer Schluter had previously serviced as a police officer in Atlanta before joining our department.


Chief Mark Mitchell stated "We feel Officer Schluter is going to be a very good fit and an asset to our agency and community we serve.  He has the right Attitude, Mindset, and Heart to be part of the Police Department and citizens we engage with each day." 

Easter Egg Hunt – Community Cookout – Unity Walk

The Canton Police Department in partnership with the below organizations would like to invite the community we serve to our 4th Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Community Cookout and Unity walk scheduled this year at Etowah River Park on Saturday, April 20, 2019, from 12:00 – 3:00 pm.  The event will be held at the park pavilion and will kick off with several different egg hunts for children of all ages.  The hunt for eggs will be followed by a cookout and then everyone will join in a walk of unity from Etowah River Park to Heritage Park and back to the pavilion.  There will also be jumpy houses for kids and many of the department’s police vehicles for children to explore.
Community Partners

• Hickory Log Baptist Church
• Zion Baptist Church
• St. Paul AME Church
• Zion Full Gospel World Ministries
• The City of Covenant Church
• Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
• Iglesia Pentecostes El Faro 
• Iglesia Mana Para Siempre
• Hasty Fine Arts Academy 

Chief Mark J. Mitchell states, “We look forward to this event each year because of the excellent opportunity our Officers have to engage with the children and parents we serve in our great community.  We are grateful and blessed to have an awesome partnership with our local churches and Hasty Elementary School.  We hope this year’s program is our largest event yet because we want to bring as many people together in unity to continue to improve trust and build long-lasting relationships for our future.” 

Canton Detectives Search for Burglary Suspects

This week, Officers responded to two (2) reported theft incidents at 201 Clubhouse Drive in the River Green Subdivision.  First, on Monday, March 25, 2019, at approximately 1:42 pm., units were called to the location and upon further investigation, learned both restrooms at the neighborhood clubhouse had been entered just after 1:15 am., the same day.  Officers were able to obtain surveillance video of the facility and observed a white male and white female come onto the property and appear to pick the locks of both restrooms.  Before the suspect(s) left the scene, the video shows the male stole pieces of the hardware from the door locking systems of both bathrooms.

The next day, Officers were again called to the River Green Clubhouse and advised, the duo came back on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, during the early morning hours.  Surveillance video was reviewed and showed the same suspects removed and stole the security badge reader controllers and the exit button from both gate entrances to the pool area.

Criminal Investigation Division Detectives responded and immediately began investigating the obviously linked cases.  Early into the investigation, an alert Detective keenly recognized the male in the video as a person he had dealt with during a previous call for service.  As he dug further, he indeed confirmed his suspicions and identified the suspect along with his girlfriend (through various Intelligence and Social Media platforms) as the actors involved in both crimes.

Arrest Warrants have been secured for both individuals who are being sought at this time. The department urges anyone with information on the whereabouts of the wanted individuals to please call 911 or send a tip to Detective Kyle Smith via his e-mail at kyle.smith@cantonga.gov.

Names of the suspects are:
Jeremy Bean 38 YOA of Atlanta
Meghan Williams 26 YOA of Acworth

Both are charged as follows:
-1 Ct. of Burglary
-2 Cts. of Theft by Taking (m)
-1 Ct. of Possession of Tools for Commission of a Crime 
-1 Ct. of Criminal Trespass

Wanted: Jeremy Bean

Wanted: Meghan Williams

Community Recruitment Expo

The Police Department is currently hiring for the position of Police Officer. The agency is actively looking for diverse men and women who aspire to join a very professional organization and possess a community mindset to serve and protect the citizens of Canton. To further the goal of employing those candidates who are the best fit for the department, the organization will be hosting a “Community Recruitment Expo” on Saturday, March 30th, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Paul AME Church located at 390 Crisler Street, Canton, GA 30114.

Those interested in attending this informative event, will need to be there no later than 1:00 p.m. Attendees will be given a presentation that covers the agency’s mission statement, core values, nobility statement, budget facts, breakdown of latest new equipment, current programs, work-projects, and an overview of the organization’s structure. In addition, presenters will cover a summary of the department’s hiring standards, the hiring process, and employee salary/ benefits. The event will end with a question and answer session for persons in attendance.

Chief Mark J. Mitchell stated, “We are very excited to host this event because our goal is to attract the most professional, viable, diverse, and community-oriented candidates that are the best for our organization. We are working hard to build a team that strives to connect with our citizens, protect our public, supports each other and endeavors to improve the quality of life for the community we serve. We want to be proactive in the recruitment of officer candidates and not simply be reactive by posting the position and waiting for individuals to apply.”

This vital recruitment initiative was organized in partnership with Zion Baptist Church, The City of Covenant Church, Zion Full Gospel Ministries, Iglesia Pentecostes El Faro, Iglesia Mana Para Siempre, St. Paul AME Church, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, and Hasty Elementary Fine Arts Academy.

Chief Mitchell urges attendees to bring completed applications to the event, so department staff members can meet with candidates to discuss their applications before they move any further in the hiring process. Citizens are encouraged to monitor the department’s active Facebook and Instagram page for further recruiting information in the coming weeks before the Expo.

Canton Police Promotion Ceremony

During a promotion ceremony held Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at the Canton Police Department, two (2) Officers and two (2) Corporals were promoted to higher ranks within the organization. Each of these employees recently participated in a promotional assessment to include a written examination and a panel interview process. Chief Mark J. Mitchell presented the Officers with their Attention to Orders and their family members or friends pinned their new supervisor badges on their uniforms.


Officer Kyle Harahus was promoted to the rank of Corporal.
Officer Adam Yurkovsky was promoted to the rank of Corporal
Corporal Jose Souto was promoted to the rank of Sergeant
Corporal Gregory Ayers was promoted to the rank of Sergeant


Chief Mitchell added, "We are extremely proud of each of these Officers because of the hard work and dedication they put into this promotional process. I feel certain they will continue to grow as leaders in their current positions all with the potential to be exceptional leaders of the future with our department and community we serve. I am proud, humbled and honored to serve with each of them."

Canton Police Welcomes New Officer

Canton Police held a swearing-in ceremony for it's newest Officer, Gary Pruitt. He was sworn into the department by Judge Thomas A. Roach Jr. on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at Canton City Hall.  Family, friends and other members of the Canton Police force were in attendance to show their support. Officer Pruitt served as a Police Officer at the Summerville Police Department for a year before joining the Canton Police Department.

From left to right: Cpt. J. Tucker, Retired US Army Master Sgt. Don Pruitt, Ofc. Gary Pruitt, Chief Mark Mitchell

CPD Charges Entering Auto Suspects

Just after 4:15 am., on Thursday, January 24, 2019, Officers responded to the report of multiple entering auto incidents on Oconee Way.  While in-route, units were advised a suspect fired several shots while driving away at a homeowner who chased the perpetrator with a baseball bat and then struck the suspect vehicle as it fled the scene.  Upon arrival, Officers discovered a bullet hole in the victim's garage, holes in a neighboring residence/vehicle and shell casings in the street near the caller’s residence.

Criminal Investigation Detectives have worked many hours securing evidence to include surveillance videos, other records and intelligence information since the crimes occurred, which led to the identity of one (1) of the suspects involved in the incidents.  During the early evening hours of Thursday, January 31, 2019, Officers from the Cobb County Police Department VIPER team apprehended the individual whom Detectives developed as a suspect and another person of interest in the Entering Auto cases.  Detectives immediately followed up on the arrests and have been able to positively identify both individuals as the perpetrators involved in the car break-ins and shots fired incident on January 24, 2019.   

Both suspects are also wanted in connection with similar crimes in Cobb County and other jurisdictions in the Metro Atlanta Area.

Chief of Police Mark J. Mitchell stated, “We are very grateful these individuals are in custody and a safe and successful resolution was brought to these crimes against our citizens.  Our Detective’s dedication and diligence was key to the arrests and prove we will not stop investigating crimes against our community from those who come here to steal from the hard-working public we serve.”

Chief Mitchell added, “We are very appreciative for Cobb County Police Department’s assistance during this investigation.” 

Suspect Information and Charges
D-Amonte’ Brown age: 18 of Austell, Ga.
Kardarious Odoms age: 18 of Powder Springs, Ga.

Both individuals are currently being held at the Cobb County Sheriff's Office Adult Detention Center and charged and with the following.   However, additional Entering Auto charges will be filed early next week.
Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 1ct.
Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony – 1ct.
Entering Auto – 1ct.