The Canton Police Patrolmen’s Association is criticizing the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office following plea agreements reached by two Canton police officers charged in connection with the death of Frank Tyson.
Officers Camden Burch and Beau Schoenegge accepted plea deals Monday as their trial on reckless homicide charges was scheduled to begin with jury selection. Both officers also agreed to immediately resign from the Canton Police Department as part of the agreements.
In a letter titled “The Citizens of Canton Deserved Better,” CPPA President R. Flaherty said the union believes Burch and Schoenegge and their families have been unfairly affected by the lengthy legal proceedings.
“For two and a half years, Officers Burch and Schoenegge and their families have been forced to endure a legal process that has taken an extraordinary toll on their lives, their careers, and their families,” Flaherty wrote. The union said the officers eventually accepted plea agreements after being “repeatedly worn down by the process.”
Burch pleaded guilty Monday to a fourth-degree misdemeanor charge of failure to report a crime, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 30 days. Schoenegge pleaded guilty to second-degree misdemeanor dereliction of duty, which carries a maximum possible sentence of 90 days.
Both will be sentenced at a later date.
The officers had been charged in connection with Tyson’s April 18, 2024, death following an encounter at an AMVETS lodge in Canton.
In its letter, the police union defended the officers’ actions and argued that they were responding to circumstances they did not create. The association pointed to the events leading up to the encounter and information contained in the coroner’s findings as factors it believes should be considered when evaluating the officers’ actions.
The union also raised broader concerns about how the prosecution could affect Canton police officers responding to potentially dangerous situations.
“This is not simply about two officers. It is about what message we are sending to every police officer who puts on a badge in Canton,” Flaherty wrote.
The association said it supports holding police officers accountable but argued that accountability should be based on the full circumstances surrounding an incident.
“Accountability is important. No one is suggesting that police officers should be above the law,” Flaherty wrote. “But accountability must be based on the complete facts.”
Tyson died after being restrained and handcuffed by Canton police. Body camera video showed Tyson repeatedly saying he could not breathe during the encounter. Officers later began CPR, and Tyson was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His death was ruled a homicide.
The union concluded its letter by saying that although the criminal case may be nearing its conclusion, questions about its handling will remain.
“Officers Burch and Schoenegge deserved better. Their families deserved better. And the citizens of Canton deserved better,” Flaherty wrote.
