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Ryan Cole appointed new police chief in Canton

Posted 10/30/24

CANTON – It took the Village of Canton just one month to hire a new chief of police.

Current Chief James Santimaw announced his retirement in late September, prompting the village board to …

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Ryan Cole appointed new police chief in Canton

Posted

CANTON – It took the Village of Canton just one month to hire a new chief of police.

Current Chief James Santimaw announced his retirement in late September, prompting the village board to initiate a search for his replacement.

Following a joint meeting with the Canton Town Board on Tuesday night, then reconvening into executive session, village leaders approved the appointment of Ryan Cole as the new police chief. Cole officially accepted the chief’s position Wednesday morning.

Cole will assume the police department leadership on Nov. 21, according to Canton Mayor Michael Dalton. Cole is scheduled to be sworn in at the village board’s Nov. 20 monthly meeting.

Cole joined the Canton police force in 2014. He is currently a sergeant and has experience as an investigator, instructor and Field Training Officer.

“Ryan is highly respected by both his fellow officers and those interviewed as part of the promotion process,” Dalton stated.

Cole attended Monroe Community College where he  obtained his AAS in Police Science and followed that up at SUNY Canton with a BS in Criminal Investigations. Hee then attended the David Sullivan St. Lawrence County Law Enforcement Academy. 

Ryan is married and has two children.

Cole’s salary will be $95,981 and will climb to $97,939 after his three-month probationary period.

Santimaw is expected to officially retire in January 2025. He will assist Cole in the transition period.

Santimaw was sworn in as police chief in July 2016. He joined the Canton Police Department as a patrol officer in 1998 and was promoted to sergeant in 2003.

Cole’s move to the police chief’s seat forces the village board to begin searching for a new sergeant and police officer, Dalton noted.