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As the City of Canton continues to be a hub for large gatherings and summer events, two police substations are helping the Canton Police Department maintain a presence in the community during the busy season.
The first substation opened in June 2023 at the J. Babe Stearn Community Center at 2628 13th St SW, and created a space for community engagement. Its officers plan outreach events and resolve neighborhood disputes to reduce the number of calls to patrol services.
Made possible by support from Stark Community Foundation and other local funding, the second location opened in February 2025 near Centennial Plaza at 309 Court Ave. NW. This station serves as a center for downtown event planning, walking beats and bicycle patrols.
“The location of the downtown substation has increased our contact and presence in the area,” said John Gabbard, Canton Police Department chief of police. “The location is perfect for having a command post during events. It also gives us a space to set up a table, educate and engage with the community.”
Gabbard said that while the department’s Community Involvement Unit prioritizes community engagement, the downtown substation is an additional opportunity for officers to be accessible beyond traditional patrol service.
That accessibility allows officers more consistent engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness, and they are able offer resources while addressing concerns in the community.
“We have received a lot of positive feedback from the community,” said Gabbard. “At the end of the year, I will look at our progress related to homelessness, suspicious and unwanted persons, disturbances, welfare checks and mental health concerns.”
Today, the substations represent the early stages of a larger vision of policing in Canton. Gabbard ultimately envisions expanding to have full-service, full-time substations in each of the city’s four quadrants as staffing increases to further the connection between police and community members.
“I would like to use substations as a way to connect more closely with neighborhoods,” Gabbard said. “I think this plan will help define neighborhoods and build a stronger connection between citizens and police.”