New Canon Police Chief Plans Safety Classes
Canon Police Chief David Cleveland
The City of Canon has a new Police Chief.
David Cleveland took over the job at the start of the new year. Former Police Chief John Thomas left last fall to take a job as an investigator with the Franklin County Sheriff’s office.
Cleveland comes to Canon from Elbert County where he served for 24 years in law enforcement, working both for the City of Elberton Police Department and the Elbert County Sheriff’s office. Cleveland said he then took a career turn but decided later that law enforcement is in his blood.
“I briefly got out of law enforcement in 2012 and drove a big rig,” Cleveland said. “I enjoyed it, but I missed law enforcement and my family. A friend of mine in law enforcement told me about this opening. I applied for it and I got it.”
Cleveland is a certified instructor with the State of Georgia and a strong supporter of citizen safety. He says one of his goals as chief is to offer a series of safety classes, particularly gun safety.
“I was real big into that in Elbert County,” he said. “I taught firearm safety to citizens. I taught a lot of self-defense classes and law classes. So, once I get stable and organized up here, I want to offer those classes to people up here.”
Cleveland said the classes would be free.
In Elbert County, Cleveland said he developed a gun safety program and hopes to do the same in Canon as well as for the citizens of Franklin County in cooperation with the Franklin County Sheriff’s office.
“There have been so many changes in the gun carry laws in Georgia, what they can and cannot do, where they can carry it and not carry it,” he said. “I hope to offer that very soon so at least people will know the law.”
Cleveland said he’s been impressed with how friendly everyone in Canon is and how they’ve made him feel welcome.