Current chiefs to continue to lead public safety department

Will Hayes

Canton Township will continue with the current public safety department management team. Last week, members of the board of trustees opted not to fill the public safety director position recently vacated by Joshua Meier who retired last month.
The Public Safety Department will move forward under the current leadership of Deputy Director of Police Chad Baugh, and Deputy Director of Fire Christopher Stoecklein, noted officials.  Additionally, Canton Emergency Management Coordinator Will Hayes, who has been actively leading the Canton Emergency Response Team and its efforts to keep the Canton community safe and informed during the COVID-19 pandemic will continue those efforts.
“Canton is fortunate to be one of only a handful of communities in the region to have an emergency management coordinator, “ noted Township Supervisor Pat Williams in a prepared statement.

  Hayes has guided the township response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Beginning in February,  Hayes, began coordinating with the Wayne County Public Health Department, Wayne County Homeland Security and Emergency Management, as well as the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division regarding the COVID-19 virus. He began coordinating efforts for the township to be prepared to respond to, and recover from, a potential pandemic. Hayes conveyed the information to the Western Wayne County Police Chiefs, Western Wayne County Mutual Aid Fire Association, as well as within the Canton organization.

Chad Baugh

Christopher Stoecklein

Hayes produces daily situation reports, providing details of the pandemic and the township actions to address the crisis, Williams said. Hayes addressed the concerns of all township employees during a host of meetings to educate them about the symptoms and methods to maintain their health during the pandemic.
Additionally, Hayes activated the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to help  Williams develop a program to assist seniors, shut-ins, and other high-risk citizens to get food, toiletries, and necessary medications without having to leave home.
The Emergency Manager is in regular contact and communication with key stakeholders including the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Wayne County Homeland Security and Emergency Management, The Michigan State Police - Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division, Western Wayne County Chiefs of Police; Western Wayne Mutual Aid Fire Chiefs Association, Health Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), and Medical Control Authority Board (MCAB) to share best practices, update protocol, and to maintain situational awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This vetted information is shared widely with the community, Williams said.
Hayes began his career with Canton in 2017, after serving as the Deputy Special Agent in Charge from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations for 29 years, and another three years as a Continuity of Operations Specialist for the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security, Emergency Management Unit.
Hayes has attained State of Michigan designation as a Professional Emergency Manager and as a Professional Continuity Practitioner. He is a member of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) as well as the American Society for Industrial Standards. He is also a FEMA-designated instructor for the National Incident Management System (NIMS); Incident Command System (ICS); and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) as well as others.
Deputy Director of Fire Christopher Stoecklein, is a Canton native who began his career with Canton in 1996 as a Public Safety Service Officer, and was promoted to firefighter one year later. In 2013, he was selected as the department deputy fire chief, and then in 2016 was promoted to deputy director of fire. In that capacity,  he was instrumental in the fire department becoming the fourth department in the state to become accredited through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
Chadwick Baugh has served as deputy director of police since 2016. He began his career with Canton in 1996 as a police officer. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2008 and then to lieutenant in 2014. As deputy director, Baugh oversaw the development of staff, policy and budget. He also empowered command staff to mentor officers to reach their maximum potential, creating quality, service-oriented employees, according to the statement from Williams.
“The Canton Public Safety Department remains in fully capable hands. The leadership of Hayes, Stoecklein and Baugh has proven effective and efficient in the recent health crisis facing the community, and will continue in the days and months to come,” Williams concluded.