Police Department Hosts Biggest National Night Out Ever

The Summit Police Department hosted its National Night Out celebration at the Village Green in Summit on Tuesday, August 2nd. The annual community event, held in conjunction with National Night Out events across the country, celebrates law enforcement and the community partnering to build strong relationships of friendship and collaboration. The Summit Police Department worked closely with other law enforcement agencies, the U.S. military, and community organizations to grow this year’s National Night Out into the largest ever held in Summit and to what some officials are calling the biggest in the State of New Jersey.
The evening began with remarks from the City’s Chief of Police, Robert K. Weck, and a moving “Blessing of the Badges Ceremony” led by Rev. Greg Davis and the Department’s Chaplain, Sgt. Ron Martin. During the ceremony, police officers from Summit, Union County, and Federal agencies, along with the Summit Fire Department and Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad, kneeled before the grandstand to pray for strength in continuing their work to keep Summit, the State, and the Country safe.
New to this year’s Night Out was a landing of the New Jersey State Police’s Aviation Unit helicopter. The chopper made the surprise visit on a landing zone which was specially constructed on the Village Green.
“I am very proud of Summit’s National Night Out,” said Chief Weck. “Our Department strives to build dynamic relationships with the members of our community and this night highlights the success of those efforts. The growth of our National Night Out to include State, County, Federal, and Military agencies highlights that the positive influence of our outreach extends even beyond our City’s own borders.”
Other notable displays featured the U.S. Coast Guard, Army National Guard, FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Union County SWAT Team, Union County Bomb Squad, and NJ Transit Police. A live concert was also performed by Summit’s World of Rock Band.
“Dunk a Cop for a Cause” also returned to this year’s Night Out. Attendees were able to purchase tickets to “dunk a cop” in a dunk tank to raise money for the Ride-4-Avi Foundation. The charity works to support Avi Akian, a Summit teenager, who is affected by a rare neurodegenerative disease called ataxiatelangiectasia (A-T).
“I am very grateful to all who helped make this night possible,” Chief Weck said, “especially the Mayor and City Administration, the Summit Fire Department, and our Community Policing Unit. Special thanks go to Judith Josephs, David Guida, and their team at the Department of Community Programs who have invested so much time in helping us grow Summit’s National Night Out to the hallmark event it has become.”
For more information about the Summit Police Department’s community outreach initiatives, please visit www.cityofsummit.org, follow the Department on Facebook @summitpd, or on Instagram @summitpd. For scheduling and to contact the Community Policing Unit, call 908- 273-0051.