Luckett begins tenure as Canton police chief focused on trust, community

Special to The Canton News

Eugene Luckett, Canton’s new chief of police, says his first priority is building trust within the police department and throughout the community as he begins his new role.

Luckett said he is “deeply honored and grateful” to have been chosen to serve Canton and described the responsibility of being entrusted with a community’s safety as one of the greatest responsibilities a person can be given.

“What attracted me to Canton is the people and the potential of this community,” Luckett said.

He pointed to Canton’s rich history, strong sense of identity and residents who care about their community as reasons he wanted to become part of the city.

“I didn’t come here believing that I had all the answers,” Luckett said. “I came here willing to listen, learn, build relationships, and work.”

During his first year, Luckett said he plans to focus on strengthening the department while establishing clear expectations for officers.

He said officers need the leadership, training, equipment, support and accountability necessary to perform their jobs effectively. Professionalism, integrity, accountability and respect, he said, should serve as the foundation of the department.

At the same time, Luckett wants residents to view the police department as an organization that serves the community.

“My first year will be about listening, evaluating, strengthening, and building a solid foundation for the future,” he said.

Luckett identified crime, youth, drugs, property crime and the resources needed to address those issues as some of the challenges facing Canton.

But he said public safety requires more than responding to crimes after they occur. “We have to look beyond the immediate incident,” Luckett said.

He said law enforcement must work with families, schools, churches, businesses, community organizations and residents to address issues that contribute to crime and create positive opportunities for young people. “Law enforcement cannot solve every problem by itself,” he said.

The department also will examine potential changes in training, technology, policies, procedures, community engagement, recruitment and officer development. Luckett said any changes should be intentional and meaningful rather than made simply for the sake of change.

He also hopes to strengthen community-oriented policing and provide officers with more opportunities to interact with residents outside of emergency situations.

“I want our officers to know the people they serve, and I want the people of Canton to know the officers who protect them,” he said.

Communication and presence will be key parts of that effort.

Luckett said officers should be visible in the community by attending events, visiting schools, talking with business owners, meeting with neighborhood groups and simply having conversations with residents.

“You can’t build a relationship with people if they only see you when something has gone wrong,” he said.
He also said officers must be willing to listen to residents and understand that community members may see issues from a different perspective than law enforcement.

Residents, Luckett said, play an important role in public safety because police officers cannot be everywhere at once. “Residents know their neighborhoods, their businesses, their schools, and their communities,” he said. “They often see things that law enforcement may not see.”

He encouraged residents to communicate with the department, report suspicious activity, provide information and participate in community meetings and initiatives. “Public safety is a shared responsibility,” Luckett said.

Recruiting and retaining officers will also be a priority. Luckett said he wants the Canton Police Department to be a place where good officers want to work and stay.
 

He said officers should feel respected, supported, challenged and valued while being held to a high standard of accountability.
 

Training will be an important part of that effort, he said, as law enforcement continues to change.
“I want officers who understand that wearing this uniform is more than having a job. It is a calling and a responsibility,” Luckett said.

Looking five years into the future, Luckett said he wants the Canton Police Department to be viewed as a trusted partner in the community.

He wants residents to know that when they call, officers will respond, listen and treat them with dignity and respect.

He also wants officers to feel proud to wear the uniform and for the department to be known for professionalism, integrity, accountability, compassion and excellence. “I want to look back five years from now and know that we didn’t just respond to problems — we helped build solutions,” he said.
 

Beyond the uniform, Luckett said he wants residents to know that he is someone who cares deeply about people and about doing things the right way. “I believe in treating people with respect regardless of who they are or what circumstances they may be facing,” he said. “I believe in accountability, but I also believe in compassion.” He added that leadership does not mean having every answer. “Sometimes leadership means being willing to say, ‘I don’t know, but I’ll find out,’” Luckett said.

As he begins his tenure, Luckett offered a simple message to Canton residents: “Thank you.” He thanked the leaders who believed he could serve in the position and the residents who have allowed him to become part of their community. “I did not accept this position simply to hold the title of Chief,” Luckett said. “I accepted it because I want to serve.”

He acknowledged that the department will face challenges and difficult days and that not everything will always go as planned. But he promised to show up, work, listen and give Canton his best. His commitment, he said, is to “serve with integrity, lead with purpose, and work alongside the people of Canton to make this a safer and stronger community.”

For Luckett, success ultimately will not be measured by recognition or the number of accomplishments attached to his tenure. “Success is measured by the impact we make on people’s lives,” he said.
If residents feel safer, officers feel supported, the department is stronger, relationships between law enforcement and the community have improved, and young people see positive possibilities for their futures, he said, he will consider that success.

“I want to leave behind something that is bigger than me,” Luckett said. “I want to build a department that can continue to serve Canton long after my time as Chief is over.” “At the end of the day, the badge isn’t about me,” he said. “It’s about the people I have been entrusted to serve.”