By Amelia Anderson The Canton Police Department, commonly known as CPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency responsible for public safety within the City of Canton, Ohio. Its work includes emergency response, regular patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, crime prevention, evidence collection and community policing.
Residents should select the correct contact method according to the urgency of the situation. Call 911 when a crime is happening, someone is in immediate danger, a weapon is involved or urgent police, fire or medical assistance is required. For incidents that do not require an emergency response, call the Canton Police Department’s non-emergency number at 330-649-5800.
Unlike police departments in some larger cities, Canton does not operate several public geographic district stations. Patrol services are provided from the department’s main facility and organized through three patrol shifts covering the city 24 hours a day.
Canton Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Canton Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | CPD |
| Headquarters address | 221 3rd Street SW, Canton, OH 44702 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency police number | 330-649-5800 |
| Police information number | 330-489-3100 |
| Police chief’s office | 330-489-3111 |
| Records Room | 330-489-3127 |
| Police-record request assistance | 330-489-3172 |
| Anonymous crime tip line | 330-489-3117 |
| Office of Professional Standards | 330-489-3377 |
| Impound Lot | 330-489-3186 |
| Number of principal divisions | Three |
| Patrol organization | Three around-the-clock patrol shifts |
| County | Stark County |
| Area served | Locations within Canton city limits |
| Police and accident report search | Incident Report Inquiry |
| Stark County Sheriff’s Office | 330-430-3800 |
Canton Police Department Address and Headquarters
The Canton Police Department’s main facility is located at: 221 3rd Street SW, Canton, Ohio 44702
The police information number is 330-489-3100. This number is appropriate for general questions, administrative enquiries and help identifying the correct department unit.
The department’s headquarters houses patrol, investigative, records and other police functions. Canton residents do not normally need to locate a separate district station because the department provides citywide service from its central facility.
The headquarters address should not be used as an alternative to requesting immediate police assistance. Call 911 when someone is in danger or a crime is actively occurring. For a delayed incident or another non-emergency matter, call 330-649-5800.
Important Canton Police Phone Numbers
Call 911 when:
- A crime is currently taking place
- Someone is in immediate danger
- A weapon is involved
- A person has suffered a serious injury
- A suspect is still at or near the scene
- A serious traffic accident requires emergency assistance
- Urgent police, fire or medical services are needed
Call 330-649-5800 for non-emergency police assistance. Appropriate situations may include a crime discovered after it occurred, property damage without an immediate threat, suspicious activity that is no longer happening or another matter requiring police documentation without an urgent response.
The police information number, 330-489-3100, may be used for general department-related questions. It should not replace the non-emergency dispatch number when an officer may need to respond.
Anonymous information about criminal activity may be provided through the department’s tip line at 330-489-3117. A crime tip is not the same as an official police report and should not be used during an emergency.
Canton Police Department Divisions
The Canton Police Department is organized into three principal operational divisions:
- Support Services Division
- Investigative Division
- Uniform Patrol Division
Each division contains bureaus and units responsible for specific law-enforcement and administrative duties.
Support Services Division
The Support Services Division coordinates functions that allow patrol officers and investigators to operate effectively. It also manages department records, training, equipment, policies and several public-service programmes.
Its responsibilities include:
- Records Section
- Property and Evidence Bureau
- Office of Professional Standards
- Police training and professional development
- Community involvement programmes
- Real-Time Crime Center
- Central police dispatch
- Department policies and procedures
- Police vehicle and equipment management
- Planning, research and grant administration
- Canton–Stark County Crime Laboratory support
The Records Section maintains police reports, arrest documents, accident reports, citations and calls-for-service information. The Office of Professional Standards receives and investigates complaints concerning police employees.
Investigative Division
The Investigative Division handles criminal cases requiring more detailed investigation than the initial patrol response.
Its major components include:
- Adult and juvenile detectives
- Crime Scene Unit
- Special Investigations Unit
- Canton Regional SWAT Team
Detectives investigate crimes, identify suspects, interview witnesses, recover stolen property and prepare cases for prosecution.
The Special Investigations Unit gathers intelligence and works on serious or organized criminal activity. Its officers may cooperate with federal, state and county task forces dealing with violent offenders, illegal firearms, narcotics and wanted fugitives.
The Crime Scene Unit documents scenes and processes physical evidence. Depending on the case, its work may include photography, fingerprint examination, evidence collection and coordination with forensic laboratories.
Uniform Patrol Division
The Uniform Patrol Division provides the police response most residents encounter. Its officers answer emergency and non-emergency calls, conduct preventive patrols, enforce traffic laws and prepare initial incident reports.
The division includes:
- Three uniform patrol shifts
- Traffic Bureau
- Holding Facility
- Impound Lot
- Parking Division
- Special-events coordination
- Police canine unit
- Auxiliary police services
Patrol officers work around the clock. The three shifts cover overnight, daytime and afternoon or evening hours, allowing officers to respond to calls throughout the day.
Canton does not divide routine patrol service among several public precinct buildings. Officers are assigned to particular patrol areas and crime-focused locations during each shift, but residents normally contact the same central emergency or non-emergency communications system.
Specialized Police Units
In addition to its principal divisions, the Canton Police Department maintains specialized capabilities for particular incidents.
These may include:
- Criminal investigations
- Violent-crime enforcement
- Narcotics investigations
- Traffic enforcement
- Serious accident investigation
- SWAT operations
- Police canine services
- Crime-scene processing
- Fugitive investigations
- Community outreach
- Special-event security
- Property and evidence management
- Real-time crime analysis
A case may move between several units. A patrol officer may prepare the initial report, detectives may conduct the follow-up investigation, and crime-scene personnel may process physical evidence.
What County Is the Canton Police Department In?
The Canton Police Department is located in Stark County, Ohio. Its normal jurisdiction is based on the legal boundaries of the City of Canton rather than the entire county.
CPD is separate from the Stark County Sheriff’s Office. Canton police officers provide municipal law-enforcement services within Canton city limits. The Sheriff’s Office operates the county jail, provides courthouse security, serves legal papers and handles law-enforcement duties in areas under county jurisdiction.
This distinction is important because a property may have a Canton mailing address without being located inside the City of Canton. Some surrounding locations may be in Canton Township or another municipality and may be served by a township police department, another city police department or the Stark County Sheriff’s Office.
North Canton also has its own police department and should not be confused with the City of Canton Police Department.
When jurisdiction is uncertain, provide the exact incident address to the dispatcher. The address is more reliable than the mailing city or ZIP code.
Filing a Canton Police Report
An official police report may be initiated by:
- Calling 911 for an emergency
- Calling 330-649-5800 for a non-emergency
- Visiting the Canton Police Department at 221 3rd Street SW
The city provides a Crime Information Report form, but submitting that form does not create an official police report. A person who needs an official report should contact the Police Department directly.
Call 911 instead of using a delayed reporting method when:
- The crime is still happening
- Someone is injured or in danger
- A weapon is involved
- The suspect is present or nearby
- Evidence may be lost or destroyed
- Immediate police attendance is necessary
After making a report, keep the report or incident number. It can help Records Room staff and investigators locate the case later.
Searching for a Canton Police Report
Canton provides an online Incident Report Inquiry service for locating available police and accident reports.
New reports do not normally appear online immediately. It usually takes at least one day for a report to become visible in the inquiry system. More complicated reports may take longer because the officer must complete and submit the document before it can be processed.
A person searching for a report should have information such as:
- Report or incident number
- Date of the incident
- Location
- Name of an involved person
- Type of report
When a report cannot be found online, contact the Police Records Room at 330-489-3127.
Obtaining Police and Accident Reports
The Canton Police Records Room is located at:
221 3rd Street SW
Canton, OH 44702
Its regular public hours are generally Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding holidays. Calling before an in-person visit is advisable because hours can change.
Police-record requests may be made through the Incident Report Inquiry system, by contacting the Records Room or by submitting a public-records request.
Available documents may include:
- Incident reports
- Accident reports
- Arrest copies
- Calls-for-service records
- Citations
- Local background-check records
- Address call logs
- Accident photographs
Online incident and accident reports are generally available without a copying fee. Paper reports requested in person may carry a per-page charge. Mailed accident-report requests require payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Some information may be removed or withheld to protect juveniles, victims, witnesses, confidential information and active investigations.
Canton Police Impound Lot
The Canton Police Department Impound Lot is located at:
2436 30th Street NE
Canton, OH 44705
Phone: 330-489-3186
The lot is generally open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding holidays.
A person attempting to recover a vehicle should call before visiting and ask what documents and payments are required. Common requirements may include photo identification, proof of ownership, valid registration and payment of towing, storage or administrative charges.
A vehicle may not always be located at the police impound lot. Some vehicles are taken to another authorized towing facility, so owners should first confirm where the vehicle is being stored.
Complaints About Canton Police Conduct
Complaints involving a Canton Police Department officer or employee are handled by the Office of Professional Standards, also referred to as Internal Affairs.
The office is located at:
Canton City Hall
218 Cleveland Avenue SW
Third Floor
Canton, OH 44702
Phone: 330-489-3377
The office is generally available from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, the responsible officer may not always be present, so an appointment or advance telephone call is recommended.
To begin an official complaint, the complainant must complete and return a Personnel Complaint Form. Forms may also be obtained from the information desk at the Police Department when the Professional Standards office is closed.
Useful complaint information includes:
- Date and time of the incident
- Exact location
- Officer’s name or badge number
- Police vehicle number
- Report, citation or call number
- Names of witnesses
- Photographs, recordings or video
- A detailed description of what occurred
A complaint can still be submitted when the officer’s name is unknown. The incident time, location, officer description and police vehicle information may help identify the employee.
Internal Affairs investigations may take up to 90 days, although many are completed sooner. The amount of time depends on the seriousness of the allegation, number of witnesses and amount of evidence requiring review.
Stark County Jail Information
The Canton Police Department does not operate the Stark County Jail. The jail is managed by the Stark County Sheriff’s Office.
Stark County Sheriff’s Office and Jail
4500 Atlantic Boulevard NE
Canton, OH 44705
Main telephone: 330-430-3800
Canton police officers may arrest a person and take the individual through the local booking process, but county custody and inmate services are handled by the Sheriff’s Office.
Questions about current custody, visitation, inmate accounts or jail procedures should be directed to the Stark County Sheriff’s Office rather than the Canton Police Records Room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does Canton have separate police precincts?
No. Canton does not operate several public geographic precinct stations like some larger cities. Officers provide citywide patrol coverage through three shifts operating from the main department.
Q. Can I file an official report through the Crime Information Report form?
No. The city clearly identifies the Crime Information Report as an information form rather than an official police report. Contact the department directly to make an official report.
Q. Why can’t I find a newly filed report online?
Reports usually take at least one day to appear in the online inquiry system. They must first be completed, submitted and processed. Contact the Records Room if the report remains unavailable.
Q. Can someone with a Canton postal address always call Canton police?
Not necessarily. Some Canton mailing addresses are outside Canton city limits. The exact location may be served by Canton Township Police, another local department or the Stark County Sheriff’s Office.
Q. Can a visitor file a police report in Canton?
Yes. A person does not need to live in Canton to report an incident that occurred within city limits. Visitors should provide permanent contact details and keep the incident number for follow-up.
Q. Does Canton police operate the Stark County Jail?
No. The Stark County Sheriff’s Office operates the county jail. Jail and inmate enquiries should be directed to 330-430-3800.
Q. Can I collect a report for another person?
Possibly. Access depends on the report type and the requester’s relationship to the case. Identification, written authorization or other proof of legal authority may be required.
Q. How can I find where my vehicle was taken?
Call the Canton Police Impound Lot at 330-489-3186. Provide the licence-plate number, vehicle identification number and vehicle description. Staff can confirm whether the vehicle is at the police lot or another towing facility.
Q. Do I need the officer’s name to file a misconduct complaint?
No. The name or badge number is helpful but not essential. Provide the date, time, location, officer description, vehicle information and any report or citation number.
Q. Can Canton police take a report for an incident in North Canton?
Usually not. North Canton operates its own police department. The law-enforcement agency responsible for the location where the incident occurred should normally take the report.
Q. Can I challenge a traffic ticket through Internal Affairs?
No. Internal Affairs investigates employee conduct. It does not decide whether a criminal charge or traffic citation is valid. Tickets and charges must be challenged through the appropriate court process.