The Canton Police Department is proud to announce the launch of Canton Ambassadors for Public Safety Unit, a community-focused program designed to enhance public service delivery while strengthening partnerships between the department and the residents of Canton. This initiative serves as an extension of the department, creating opportunities for civilian engagement in support of our mission to serve the city efficiently, effectively, and professionally.

In mid-February 2025, the department began a competitive selection process, reviewing numerous applications from individuals eager to represent the values and professionalism of the Canton Police Department. After a comprehensive interview and background investigation process, four outstanding individuals were selected to become the first Public Safety Ambassadors in Cherokee County.

We are pleased to introduce our first C.A.P.S Unit for the City of Canton; Kaeley Ricketts, Christopher Green, Nadia Vollrath, and Isaiah Deese.

These individuals have successfully completed a thorough training program that included both in-house training and on-the-job experience. Their training has prepared them to respond with confidence and professionalism as they represent the department throughout the city.

As Canton continues to grow, it remains our priority to ensure every resident receives the highest quality of service during every interaction with our department. The C.A.P.S  Unit supports this goal by assigning trained civilian ambassadors to handle low-risk, non-criminal calls for service, allowing sworn officers to focus on higher-priority public safety responsibilities.

The following duties provide an overview of some of the responsibilities carried out by the C.A.P.S. Unit. This is not a full list, but rather a summary intended to highlight the unit’s primary areas of focus.

• Disabled or abandoned vehicles
• Private property accidents
• Non-criminal walk-in reports
• Lost or found property
• Street hazards
• Public events and traffic details

You will begin to see our C.A.P.S Unit throughout the city (in parks, at community events, and assisting with traffic-related duties). They will report to a police patrol supervisor and operate under the direction of sworn officers. It is important to note that the C.A.P.S Unit is not intended to replace police officers, but to work alongside them to ensure faster response times and more efficient public safety services.

“I am pleased to announce the implementation of the C.A.P.S. Unit as a valuable addition to our dedicated and professional team. This strategic initiative will enhance our service delivery by allowing sworn police officers to focus more effectively on crime prevention and meaningful community engagement. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager for their steadfast support in bringing this important advancement to reality.”    – Chief of Police, Marty Ferrell.