Canton Ambassadors for Public Safety (CAPS) Unit

The City of Canton is always looking for innovative, cost-effective ways to improve public safety. One program that has had great success in many jurisdictions involves hiring public safety ambassadors.

In February, the City Council approved a new initiative for the Canton Police Department (CPD) known as the Canton Ambassadors for Public Safety (CAPS) Unit. This approval grants the CPD authorization to hire four full-time civilian public safety ambassadors and equip them with the necessary gear to support the program's implementation.

Public safety ambassadors are civilian personnel who supplement the efforts of the police department by responding to service calls that do not require a sworn law enforcement officer. Examples of situations where an ambassador may be deployed include handling private property accidents, patrolling city parks, assisting with missing person searches, aiding with disabled vehicles, completing incident reports for nonviolent cases, and processing minor crime scenes. This list is not exhaustive and will evolve as the CAPS Unit is fully integrated.

This frees up sworn officers to patrol Canton's roads, respond more efficiently to serious incidents, and prevent other matters from escalating into more severe issues.

Ambassadors will undergo approximately eight weeks of training through the CPD field training program. During this time, they will ride with field training officers (FTOs) and supervisors as needed. The training curriculum will include police radio communication procedures (codes and signals), Georgia Criminal Information Center (GCIC) protocols, driver training, CPD policies and procedures, proper evidence handling, first aid and CPR, city geography, and various other topics relevant to the role.

This program accepts younger applicants than regular police officer positions, so it is a great introduction for those interested in a law enforcement career. Many ambassadors later become sworn officers.

Public safety ambassadors will be easy to distinguish from sworn police officers. They will wear a different uniform, and their vehicles will have distinctive markings that will differentiate them from regular patrol vehicles.

The ambassadors' work schedules will initially consist of two shifts: Sunday through Thursday and Tuesday through Saturday, with hours generally falling during the daytime. The objective is to provide coverage seven days a week, ensuring public safety ambassadors are available during peak times, such as weekends when city parks are more actively used.

So, if you call the Canton Police Department for a nonemergency in the future, you may see an ambassador come to your door instead of a police officer. Rest assured, you will receive the same prompt, professional, and courteous service you have come to expect from the CPD.