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Welcome to the Summit Police Department
Weekly Police Blotter
- September 11 to 24, 2023
- August 15 to Sept 10, 2023
- July 31 to August 14, 2023
- July 18 to 30, 2023
- July 4 to 17, 2023 @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Click here to see past police blotters.
Summit Police Department News Releases
October 3, 2023: Summit Police Receive Reports of Twombly Drive Attempted Burglary and Warwick Road Burglary
September 26, 2023: Attempted Distraction Burglary Avoided by Woodland Avenue Resident
September 22, 2023: Summit Police Department to Offer Young Women’s Self-Defense Class on October 12
September 22, 2023: Summit Police Department Seeking School Crossing Guards
September 20, 2023: Summit Police Implement New Jersey Arrive Together Program to Enhance Mental Health Crisis Response
September 20, 2023: Summit Police Respond to Break-in and Stolen Vehicles on Iris Road
September 12, 2023: Summit Police Respond to Altercation at Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Breaking News
October 3, 2023 - At approximately 3:17AM on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, Summit Police Department received a report of an attempted burglary at a Twombly Drive residence. At approximately 8:16AM on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, Summit Police Department received a report of a burglary at a Warwick Road residence that occurred sometime during overnight hours. Read the news release
September 26, 2023 - The Summit Police Department is actively investigating a suspicious incident that may be an attempted distraction burglary. The incident occurred at a Woodland Avenue residence on Saturday, September 23, 2023.
According to the victim, the subject, described as a white male with light brown hair and a possible Irish accent, attempted to lure her from the home by claiming that they were investigating a complaint from a neighbor about falling debris. They asked her to come outside for them to show her the issue in the backyard. The homeowner became suspicious, asked for identification, and refused to open the door. When the subject was unable to produce identification, the victim asked him to leave a business card in the mailbox for her to contact them later. The victim observed the subject and a possible second subject leaving the scene in a black pickup truck without leaving a card. The victim later called the City of Summit Department of Community Services to report the encounter; staff immediately notified police. Read news release
September 20, 2023 - On Wednesday, September 20 at approximately 2:45AM, Summit Police Department received a report of a break-in at an Iris Road residence that resulted in two vehicles being stolen from the driveway. Preliminary investigation findings indicate that suspects used a rock to break the glass of a side door to the residence, reach in through the opening and remove two key fobs that were hanging near the door. The sound of breaking glass apparently woke the victim, and they called police. They later observed two suspects fleeing north on Iris Road in a 2018 Audi Q5 and 2015 Acura TLX. Responding police units located and pursued the stolen cars as they entered onto Route 24 east. The pursuit was eventually terminated on Route 78 east near mile marker 51 in Union Township due to excessive speed. The suspect vehicle has been identified as a 2021 Kia Sportage that was later found parked on Iris Road with the doors open and engine running. The vehicle was later reported stolen out of East Orange, New Jersey. Prior to the break-in, suspects reportedly entered an unlocked 2023 BMWI4 and 2021 Mercedes GLA that were parked at a residence across the street. No key fobs were present in either vehicle. Summit Police Department detectives processed the scene.
September 12, 2023 - On Tuesday, September 12 at 10:29AM, Summit Police Department received a report of an altercation involving two men and a knife at Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation on 4 Waldron Ave. in Summit. After responding to the scene, police seized the weapon and arrested the suspect without incident. There were no reported injuries.Derrick M. Jones, age 63, an unhoused male, was charged with third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Following processing, Mr. Jones was released with an October 12, 2023, Superior Court first appearance date. The victim was a 56-year-old unhoused male.
September 5, 2023 - Summit Police Department has received several reports of a bear in the area of Oak Ridge Avenue and Rotary Drive. Bears tend to be wary of humans, but are attracted to neighborhoods by odors from garbage cans. It is important to store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and avoid leaving food outside. Feeding bears, whether intentionally or unintentionally by leaving food outside, is dangerous for both people and bears, and is illegal in New Jersey. The DEP website provides information on how to avoid attracting bears, tips on how to react to an encounter with a black bear, and more. There are also safety tips for homeowners, business owners, fishers, campers, and hikers. In the event of an encounter with a bear, residents should immediately notify local police or the DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife at 1-877-927-6337.
August 26, 2023 - At approximately 2:27AM on Saturday, August 26, 2023, Summit Police Department (SPD) received a report of a burglary in progress at 25 Hillcrest Avenue. The resident was awakened by a security alarm and contacted SPD immediately. It was determined that two unidentified suspects used a tool to break into a first-floor window and proceeded to a second-floor bedroom while a third suspect remained outside the residence. They located the key fob to a 2023 two-door white Lamborghini bearing New York license plate ZJS4774 that was parked in the driveway. The vehicle was subsequently stolen and later pursued by both Millburn and Summit police units into Essex County where the pursuit was ultimately terminated. A watch with an estimated value greater than $16k was also removed from the residence. There was no contact between the suspects and residents during the break in. At this time, it is believed that a black Dodge Durango bearing temporary New Jersey license plate Z458425 was involved in the crime. An investigation is in progress. Anyone with information pertinent to the investigation should contact the Summit Police Department at (908) 273-0051.
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Officer Karen Stenstrom Sauers needs your help
Summit police and fire departments, PBA Local 55, FMBA 54, Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad and city officials are joining together to raise awareness about the immediate need for a living donor kidney transplant for Police Officer Karen Stenstrom Sauers. Full news release (pdf)
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Sign up for Emergency Notifications
Citizens must opt-in to the new Smart911 system to receive alerts from the city. Creating a profile ensures that you will receive emergency alerts and helps emergency services respond more effectively with crucial medical and location information. Create a Smart911 Profile
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Summit Police Department to Offer Young Women’s Self-Defense Class on October 12
The class is for girls ages 11 to 15 and will be held on Thursday, October 12, from 6PM to 8PM in the Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School gymnasium, located at 272 Morris Avenue. Sign up now
2023 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign
Beginning on August 18, 2023, and continuing through September 4, 2023, the Summit Police Department (SPD) is participating in the annual "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. The SPD received a grant for $7,000 from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety to initiate the campaign that is focused on removing impaired drivers from the roads and preventing potential tragedies. Click here to learn more.
The SPD is committed to ensuring that all citizens regardless of their disability, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation enjoy the rights guaranteed by NJ law and the US Constitution. Community resources
The Summit Police Department is participating in the New Jersey State Arrive Together program, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at improving emergency response to mental health crises by pairing trained mental health professionals provided by Trinitas Regional Medical Center with local law enforcement officers trained in crisis intervention. Full news release
Please take a look at these safety tips to help prevent auto theft in Summit.
Two Streets a Week Campaign
Summit Police Department is working to reduce careless driving through its new "two streets a week" campaign. The purpose of the program is to coordinate enforcement efforts on two streets each week with the goal of reducing speeding and other dangerous traffic violations through an established and ongoing police presence.
Help keep our neighborhoods safe.
Join a voluntary registry of privately-owned video surveillance systems in Summit. The Summit Citizen Eye directory is a list of camera locations that will provide detectives with footage in areas where criminal activity has occurred. Program video
Overnight on-street parking rules
By municipal ordinance, no vehicle shall be parked on any street during any night of the year between the hours of 2:30AM and 5AM or when snow is forecast. Requests must be received prior to 2AM or subject to a parking citation. Call the police department non-emergency number 908-273-0051 with questions.
Body Camera Program
Uniformed officers assigned to the patrol bureau and traffic unit wear body cameras to capture valuable evidence for investigations and trials. It also documents scenes, interviews, and encounters between the police and citizens, promoting accountability and transparency.
Click here for more info on the grant that is allowing the SPD to equip its officers with body cameras into 2026.
Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018 (N.J.S.A. 2C:58-20 to -32) provides procedures for a family or household member to apply for a protective order against a person who poses a danger of causing bodily injury to self or others by possessing or purchasing a firearm. It prohibits the respondent from possessing or purchasing a firearm or ammunition and from holding a firearms purchaser ID card, permit to purchase a handgun, and permit to carry a handgun. This is a civil court order that is issued by a judge upon consideration of evidence, prompted by a petition by a family or household member, or law enforcement officer. Order on State of NJ website
Protect and prepare your family with Smart911. Citizens can create a safety profile for their household on Smart911 with important information that emergency responders can use in the event of an emergency.
When a citizen makes an emergency call, their safety profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 dispatcher and emergency responders can provide more personalized assistance. Citizens can add important information to their profile such as medical conditions and allergies, property details and layout, information on pets and service animals, family members' phone numbers, emergency contacts, and more. Visit www.smart911.com to get started.
Video Gallery
The Summit Police Department has created a series of videos to educate and inform the public. Videos focus on topics relating to safe trick-or-treating, bicycle and automobile theft, identity theft and fraud. Access the videos on YouTube here.
Recorded by HTTV 2020.
**Please do not dispose of syringes in this box. Please remove all personal information from the medicine containers you are depositing into the box. Click here for info on how to dispose of syringes with regular household garbage.
Sign up for nixle alerts or access the Everbridge app to receive emergency and general notifications from the Summit Police Department.
Please note: If you enter an email address when registering with nixle, you will receive email alerts when the SPD sends advisory, non-emergent messages. To receive only text alert and advisory messages, do not enter an email address. Using the app generates push notifications to your mobile phone and emails. More detailed information and instructions are available here.
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Police
Physical Address
512 Springfield Ave
City Hall
Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: 908-273-0051Fax: 908-273-8002
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Chief Steven Zagorski
Chief of Police
Police OPRA Requests
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Police
Physical Address
512 Springfield Ave
City Hall
Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: 908-273-0051
Hours
Staffed 24 hours a day / 365 days a year