'Zero Tolerance For Discrimination': Summit Enacts Safe Place Program

SUMMIT, NJ — In an effort to promote a citywide "zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination," Summit Police Department announced its participation in the Safe Place Program — an initiative spearheaded by Union County.

This partnership between Summit Police and area businesses and organizations is aimed at providing safety and security to all residents and visitors of the city. Participating organizations in the Safe Place Program will display a rainbow shield decal at their establishment as a safe place for victims of bias, harassment, discrimination, bullying, or hate crimes to find shelter while calling 911 for help.

If a victim of any bias incident or crime enters a premise, instruct staff, employees, teachers, administrators, volunteers, counselors or students will assist the victim by calling 9-11 immediately and allow them to remain in the premises until police arrive.

Union County and the City of Summit defines these as incidents related to race, color, religion, gender expression or identity, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, political ideology, age, parental status, national origin, or ethnicity. The program is not for residential use.

Union County is the first county worldwide to collectively execute the program, with all 25 law enforcement agencies in the county committed to participating in the program. There is no cost to area businesses to participate.

"We are thrilled to join other Union County agencies to bring the Safe Place Program to our community,” said Summit Police Chief Steven Zagorski at a press conference on Tuesday. "It is our hope that every Summit business and organization will join us to make the initiative successful and help ensure that people who live in Summit and visit here feel safe and supported."

Mayor Nora Radest stressed the importance of the Safe Place Program in light of the recent acts of hate and discrimination that have occurred around the country.

"On Friday, I was at home reading emails when a notification came across the screen. 'Florida teens do not feel safe at school,'" she said. "My heart breaks for these young people and the school teachers who describe feeling uncomfortable and unsafe."

Radest is referencing the "Don't Say Gay" bill that was passed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis back in March.

The set of rules, which were also approved by the Florida State Board of Education, took effect on July 1. One rule allows teachers to be fired and their licenses suspended or revoked if they "intentionally provide classroom instruction to students in kindergarten through grade 3 on sexual orientation or gender identity."

Radest said that while Florida is the only state to pass the restrictive law, 12 other states have also introduced similar bills.

She also spoke about the shooting that occurred in Colorado Springs, Colorado over the weekend where a 22-year-old gun man entered a LGBTQ nightclub and killed five people, as well as injured 25 others.

The suspect was quickly taken down and contained by two patrons until police arrived, which officials say likely prevented more people from being killed or injured.

"It's good to live in New Jersey where we experience fewer of these devastating tragedies and I am proud of how the Summit Police Department takes extra steps to protect every citizen from hate and violence crimes," Radest said. "While we are not even close to being perfect, messages of inclusion and tolerance need to be shared, and discrimination and bullying about race, religion, gender or sexual orientation will not be accepted in our community."

Radest said the Safe Place Program is a positive step toward making Union County a safer place to live, work, go to school, worship and visit.

This initiative was developed by the Seattle Police Department in 2015 as an effort to reduce LGBTQ+ bias incidents and hate crimes, but has grown exponentially since its inception, and includes all forms of hate and bias incidents, as well as student bullying.

The program is symbolized by a rainbow-colored shield and has been adopted by more than 300 law enforcement jurisdictions throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

For more information on the Summit Police Department and the Summit Safe Place Program, visit www.cityofsummit.org/safeplace. To participate or request program materials, area businesses and organizations should contact Officer David Kotiga at 908-598-2113 or CPU@SPDNJ.org.

You can watch highlights from the press conference on YouTube.

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