Canton Police Chief Michael Daniels says he has restricted access to the department’s license plate reader system, removed federal data-sharing access and reorganized parts of its command structure during his first seven months on the job.
Daniels outlined the changes in a progress report shared through the department’s social media channels, according to The Canton Citizen.
The report, titled “Learning from the Past; Building the Future,” describes work on accountability, leadership, technology, policies, finances and community safety.
Daniels began leading the department in February after the Select Board appointed him Dec. 30, 2025. He previously served as police chief in Oxford, Massachusetts, and brought more than 26 years of policing experience to Canton.
Tighter oversight of license plate readers
Daniels reported restricting access to Canton’s Flock Safety automated license plate reader system, removing federal data-sharing access and introducing additional auditing and administrative review.
The report does not detail the technical scope of those restrictions.
The changes follow public questions about the department’s use of the cameras. In an Aug. 17 announcement, Daniels said Flock information had helped officers identify a vehicle connected to a property damage investigation and locate a vulnerable missing person, Patch reported.
Daniels said searches and other activity are logged and subject to review, with access limited to legitimate law enforcement and public safety purposes.
Leadership, staffing and systems
Daniels said he rebuilt parts of the command structure, clarified leadership responsibilities and strengthened supervisory expectations, notification procedures and complaint review.
The department is also reviewing policies, training and organizational practices while managing promotions, retirements, resignations and recruitment.
Other work includes reviewing overtime, scheduling, staffing models, fleet needs and long-term finances. Modernization efforts are underway for computer-aided dispatch, records management, policy management and technology access controls.
Reforms follow department audit
The Citizen reported that many changes align with recommendations from an independent department audit completed in spring 2025.
A November 2023 Special Town Meeting authorized up to $200,000 for the review. The town subsequently selected 5 Stones Intelligence under a contract of up to $198,000, according to a town announcement reproduced by Fall River Reporter.
The administrative, policy and procedures review identified areas needing improvement. According to the Citizen, auditors reported finding no evidence of “conspiracies, coverups or corruption” within their review.
Community outreach continues
Daniels launched quarterly “Breakfast with the Chief” events with Diane Tynan and the Canton Department of Elder and Human Services.
He also reported expanding targeted traffic enforcement using crash history, resident concerns and officer observations.
Daniels said the department’s changes remain a work in progress, with continued attention to policies, supervision and technology oversight.
