Canton police chief to retire in January; The village begins searching

CANTON – The search for a new police chief in the Village of Canton has begun.

The Canton Village Board confirmed the pending retirement of Canton Police Chief James Santimaw at its monthly meeting Wednesday evening. Santimaw is expected to retire in January 2025.

Village trustees gave Mayor Michael Dalton permission to pull out the test list for his replacement and an accompanying list for hiring an additional police officer if the police chief position within the department is filled.

Dalton noted that a sergeant currently employed by the police department has passed the police chief exam.

Santimaw was sworn in as police chief in July 2016. At that time, the Canton native welcomed the challenge and the opportunity to serve his home community.

“I grew up in Canton and always wanted to do this job. I always wanted to give back to the community I grew up in. That was very important to me,” he explained.

Santimaw joined the Canton Police Department in 1998 as a patrol officer. In 2003 he was promoted to sergeant.

The resignation of long-time village secretary Sally Noble was also announced Wednesday evening. Noble plans to retire in late May or early June 2025.

For other village business, the board is seeking two people to serve on the Canton Housing Authority board, two people on the Village Planning Board and one person on the Village Zoning Board of Appeals.