Summary of 2008 Citizen Complaints (file size 12kb)

Canton Public Safety will accept any citizen complaint against the department or one of it's employees.

Complaints can be made either in person, by e-mail, or by phone call to a supervisor that is on duty at that time. E-mail is the least desirable method as it extends the time span necessary to collect all information vital to the investigation of the complaint.  Complainants will be notified of the department's 30-day response time for completing the investigation.

The Public Safety Department uses a citizen complaint form to record information that is necessary to complete the investigation. The complainant will be asked to provide their name, address and phone number so that we may fully and adequately respond to them in writing.

Race, sex, age and ethnicity will also be requested of the complainant. The purpose of requesting this information is to allow police administration to look for any behavior patterns that may demonstrate a bias or prejudice on the part of the officer. The information is also helpful in determining any training needs that may be necessary.

All complaints are thoroughly investigated by the employee's immediate supervisor.  Findings are reviewed by the fire chief or deputy police chief, and a written response is sent to the complainant from the Director of Public Safety's Office. 

The department utilizes internal investigation software to record and track complaints. 

For more information regarding citizen complaints contact the Public Safety Administration Office at 734/394-5445.