Editing Canton, Ohio (section)

==Government==
{{see also|List of mayors of Canton, Ohio}}
[[File:Stark County Office Building.jpg|thumb|Stark County Office Building]]

Canton has a [[mayor–council government]] and is the largest city in Ohio to operate without a charter. The city council is divided among nine wards with three at-large seats and the council president. In addition, an independently elected mayor serves as an executive. As of 2025, the mayor is William V. Sherer II and the council president is Kristen Bates Aylward.<ref name="mayor">{{cite web|url=https://www.cantonohio.gov/334/Mayor |title=Office of the Mayor of the City of Canton |website=cantonohio.gov |access-date=April 7, 2025 }}</ref><ref name="council">{{cite web|url=https://www.cantonohio.gov/532/Members |title=Members - City Council |website=cantonohio.gov |access-date=April 7, 2025 }}</ref>

Canton is included in [[Ohio's 29th senatorial district]], represented by [[Jane Timken]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Langenfeld |first1=Danielle |last2=Naquin |first2=Talia |title=Jane Timken appointed as Senator for 29th District |url=https://fox8.com/news/jane-timken-appointed-as-senator-for-29th-district/ |website=Fox8 |access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref> and the 49th district of the [[Ohio House of Representatives]], represented by [[Jim Thomas (tennis)|Jim Thomas]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jake Zuckerman |first=jzuckerman@cleveland com |date=November 25, 2022 |title=Ex-tennis pro Jim Thomas to join Ohio House GOP in 2023 |url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2022/11/ex-tennis-pro-jim-thomas-to-join-ohio-house-gop-in-2023.html |access-date=July 13, 2024 |website=cleveland |language=en}}</ref> At the federal level, it has been included in [[Ohio's 13th congressional district]] since 2022 and is represented by [[Emilia Sykes]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kreider |first1=Derek |last2=Williams |first2=Patrick |date=November 5, 2024 |title=Emilia Sykes reelected in 13th Congressional District race as Kevin Coughlin concedes |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/05/2024-election-results-ohio-emilia-sykes-kevin-coughlin-race-oh-13-district/75917122007/ |work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |access-date=November 7, 2024}}</ref>

===Law enforcement===
In April 2024, officers of the Canton Police Department restrained 53-year-old Frank Tyson after a car crash, with Tyson dying after the restraint. Police took down Tyson to the ground, handcuffed him, and then one officer kneeled on Tyson for roughly 30 seconds, with Tyson stating: "I can't breathe. I can't breathe. You're on my neck". After the knee was removed and Tyson was left on his stomach, Tyson became motionless and subsequently died. Two Canton officers were assigned paid administrative leave during an investigation into the incident.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Griffith |first1=Janelle |title=Bodycam video shows handcuffed man telling Ohio officers 'I can't breathe' before his death |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bodycam-video-shows-handcuffed-man-telling-ohio-officers-cant-breathe-rcna149334 |access-date=June 2, 2024 |work=[[NBC News]] |date=April 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Seewer |first1=John |last2=Scolforo |first2=Mark |title=Body-cam footage shows police left an Ohio man handcuffed and facedown on a bar floor before he died |url=https://apnews.com/article/ohio-police-custody-death-cant-breathe-be0d9d17b35da46f9b8a3187f01fb988# |access-date=June 2, 2024 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 26, 2024}}</ref>

In May 2024, Canton Police officers arrested a male bystander during a traffic stop after Patrolman Nicholas Casto accused him of taunting his police dog.<ref name=Mitti>{{cite news |last1=DeNatale |first1=Dave |last2=McMullen |first2=Justin |last3=Mitchell |first3=Russ |last4=Hicks |first4=Mitti |title=Canton police place K-9 officer on leave amid internal investigation of dog 'deployed' on suspect |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/canton/canton-police-k-9-officer-internal-investigation-dog-suspect/95-aa1a8543-f4c5-4b4d-92e1-b8881acd93c5 |access-date=June 2, 2024 |work=[[wkyc.com]] |date=June 1, 2024}}</ref> Body camera footage showed several officers bringing the bystander to the ground, and Casto leading the dog to bite his arm for 15 seconds, despite the bystander keeping his arms still.<ref name=Mitti/><ref name=Weir>{{cite news |last1=Molnar |first1=Nancy |last2=Weir |first2=Kelli |title='Alarming' video shows Canton police dog attacking man during arrest, officer on leave |url=https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/crime/2024/05/31/canton-police-office-on-paid-leave-after-alarming-dog-bite-video/73923078007/ |access-date=June 2, 2024 |work=[[Canton Repository]] |date=May 31, 2024}}</ref> After the dog was removed, Casto praised it.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stelloh |first1=Tim |last2=Kelley |first2=Ava |title=Ohio K-9 officer on leave after video appears to show police dog attacking man lying on stomach |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ohio-k9-officer-leave-video-appears-show-police-dog-attacking-man-lyin-rcna154989 |access-date=June 2, 2024 |work=[[NBC News]] |date=June 1, 2024}}</ref> Casto was placed on paid administrative leave, prompting concern from Canton councilmen.<ref name=Weir/> In early June, Police Chief John Gabbard recommended Casto's dismissal for false statements in his report that justified excessive force.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weir |first1=Kelly |title=Canton police chief says K-9 officer's use of force 'unjustified,' recommends he be fired |url=https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2024/06/07/canton-police-k9-dog-use-of-force-incident-chief-wants-officer-fired-nicholas-casto/74013318007/ |access-date=July 21, 2024 |work=[[Canton Repository]] |date=June 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240721023649/https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2024/06/07/canton-police-k9-dog-use-of-force-incident-chief-wants-officer-fired-nicholas-casto/74013318007/ |archive-date=July 21, 2024}}</ref> Director Andrea Perry, supported by Mayor William Sherer, fired Casto in late June, concluding the bystander posed no threat and Casto’s actions endangered officers. Perry confirmed Casto knowingly provided inaccurate information.<ref name=deserves>{{cite news |last1=Weir |first1=Kelli |title='Canton deserves better.' Police officer Nicholas Casto fired for deploying K-9 in arrest |url=https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2024/06/28/canto-officer-nicholas-casto-was-fired-for-deploying-k-9-during-arrest/74244278007/ |access-date=July 21, 2024 |work=[[Canton Repository]] |date=June 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240721023717/https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2024/06/28/canto-officer-nicholas-casto-was-fired-for-deploying-k-9-during-arrest/74244278007/ |archive-date=July 21, 2024}}</ref>