Chief John Gabbard has been a Canton Police Officer for over 28 years and has served as Chief since 2022.  He is a graduate of the University of Akron and the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command.  Throughout his career, he has worked in every police division, commanded units ranging from narcotics investigation to community involvement and implemented Intelligence-led Policing into Canton's operations.  He was named the Canton Patrol Officer of the Year in 2003 and the Police Officer of the Year as a Detective Sergeant in 2007.  Chief Gabbard has been an adjunct professor of Criminal and Restorative Justice at Malone University since 2018.