![\"Chad](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/12\/10\/POEN\/e9a9b6f5-a32f-4297-ae6a-1bc7601a85e9-Chad_Baugh.jpg?width=300&height=342&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp\")
<\/figure>\nMichael Kim remains upset about a multiple-car crash\u00a0he was part of in Canton Township.<\/p>\n
Kim filed an unsuccessful complaint against the police department, alleging bias because, in his opinion, the\u00a0driver apparently causing a string of rear-end collisions wasn\u2019t punished enough.<\/p>\n
But the township\u2019s new Police Transparency and Guidance Subcommittee<\/a> should be able to review his concerns this spring, Police Chief Chad Baugh said.<\/p>\n Recently presenting an update about the\u00a0subcommittee to township trustees, he and subcommittee members said case reports, bodycam and patrol car footage and other materials are being reviewed so the subcommittee can potentially\u00a0make recommendations for improvements regarding tactics, policies, procedures or coaching.<\/p>\n Materials reviewed by the subcommittee\u00a0are redacted so identities can remain unknown while hopefully adding another layer of\u00a0trust the community has in its local law enforcers.<\/p>\n\n \u201cI very much know something is wrong here,\u201d Kim wrote in an email to Hometown Life. \u201cI just want someone to address it. Not to be overdramatic, but I really do avoid driving through Canton if at all possible for fear of police bias.”<\/p>\n More:<\/strong>Professional dominoes strategist from Canton named judge for new FOX game show<\/a><\/p>\n More:<\/strong>Federal judge dismisses Wayne police sergeant’s suit regarding lost police chief job<\/a><\/p>\n\n Baugh\u00a0announced the new subcommittee in April 2021.<\/a> A $40,000 grant\u00a0assured the advice of Brett Naumcheff, a\u00a0law enforcement attorney, and Scott Wolfe, a Michigan State University criminal justice instructor. \u00a0<\/p>\n The subcommittee stems from the township police department and the Canton Coalition for Inclusive Communities.\u00a0 Eva Davis, who is the coalition’s civilian leader, is the chair.<\/p>\n Other subcommittee members include\u00a0Denise Lilly, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools\u2019 diversion, equity and inclusion director and Rachel Miller of First Step, which works to help\u00a0domestic and sexual violence victims.<\/p>\n\n They received training\u00a0on best practices and policies for the township and police department. They met over Zoom. They began reviewing cases.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a lot of conversation about tone and manner and how that interpersonal interaction can affect police officer and citizen interaction and how that impacts perceptions,\u201d Davis\u00a0said, also noting recommendations for more layperson language in written communications regarding complaints.\u00a0<\/p>\n “All members of the subcommittee are just average lay people. We don\u2019t necessarily know all of the police jargon, and so your average citizen probably would not either,\u201d she explained during the presentation to the trustees.<\/p>\n Miller said she has appreciated her time on the subcommittee, which she said is proving that police departments can change and become more accountable.<\/p>\n \u201cCanton is incredibly lucky to have a police administration that embraces change,\u201d she said. \u201cThis has been really eye opening to me. It really does show that progress and change can happen as long as police departments are willing to embrace it.\u201d<\/p>\n Contact reporter Susan Vela at svela@hometownlife.com<\/a> or 248-303-8432. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n