Summit Police Chief Robert Weck presented a traffic and residential safety report, Keeping Summit Safe, on the Roadways and in Your Homes, at the November 1 Common Council meeting focusing on the success of the expanded Summit Police Department traffic safety, community policing and patrol units.
“It is important for the community to be educated about the number of pedestrian and vehicle accidents in Summit,” explains Police Chief Robert Weck. “There is often a significant difference between perceptions and reality, and how effective the SPD is in modifying behavior and making the streets even safer for travel.”
Chief Weck reviewed statistics for accidents among pedestrians and motorists from 2012 to the present, showing a progressive overall decrease in the number of serious accidents.
Weck continues: “While our goal for the number of accidents is always zero, we are encouraged by the effectiveness of our initiatives and ability to use a combination of education, engineering and enforcement to address traffic-related concerns within the community.”
In the presentation, Chief Weck also addressed the inaccurate perception among some members of the community that the number of residential burglaries is on the rise.
“In almost every instance, an unlocked door of a home or car is how the perpetrator gets access to the residence or vehicle,” reports Chief Weck. “If you see something, say something and please lock your doors and remove keys from cars.”
Chief Weck further reinforced that the Summit Police Department wants citizens to reach out to them with issues and concerns: “We are here for you, and want to hear from you.”
Members of the residential and business communities can contact Chief Weck at rweck@spdnj.org or the Traffic Safety Unit at traffic@spdnj.org or call 908-273-0051. The complete presentation is available at cityofsummit.org/police.