Canton Forms Police Transparency And Guidance Subcommittee

CANTON, MI — A new police committee in Canton will examine police misconduct investigations and use of force complaints, authorities said Thursday.

The Canton Police Department has developed the Police Transparency and Guidance Subcommittee, which will operate as a subgroup of the Canton Coalition for Inclusive Communities, the department said in a news release.

In addition to investigations into allegations of police misconduct if or when they arise, complaints surrounding the use of force and false arrests, the subcommittee will be tasked with investigating complaints of alleged racial profiling and bias-based policing.

“This committee will help express a community-driven voice as it relates to police service,” Canton Police Chief Chad Baugh said. “As we deploy some of the best police officers in our state, we are at the same time increasing our transparency and developing another mechanism to find solutions and build a stronger bond with our citizens."

The committee will be citizen-led, officials explained, with the group being made up of five diverse members of the CCIC who will provide annual reports with potential recommendations to the police chief. The reports and recommendations will be reviewed with the township supervisor and board of trustees, and the chief will address any strategic programming needs to meet the service expectations of the Canton community, officials said.

“We are proud to say that Canton is taking a proactive step in strengthening our police and community partnership,” Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak said. “The new committee will not replace any of the current policy processes we have in place, but instead increase transparency and commitment to our residents,” Graham-Hudak adds.

Committee members will receive ongoing comprehensive legal, labor and educational training related to the best practices of holistic policing, officials added.