New Police Chief To Take Charge In Summit

SUMMIT, NJ — Captain Ryan Peters was appointed as the next Chief of Police on Tuesday at the Summit Common Council.

Peters replaces Chief Steven Zagorski who is set to retire on April 30, after 36 years of service to the City of Summit.

"I am incredibly proud to appoint Captain Peters as Summit’s next Chief of Police," says Mayor Elizabeth Fagan. "His impressive résumé, matched by his strong work ethic, thoughtful decision-making, and the deep respect he has earned from his peers make me confident that he will be a fantastic leader."

Peters joined the Summit Police Department in 2007 and was assigned to the Patrol Bureau. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2017 and to the rank of Captain in 2021.

During his tenure with the department, Captain Peters has served in several critical roles, including Commander of the Support Services Division, Union County SWAT Team Leader, member of the Union County Emergency Response Team (UCERT), and many more.

Peters has extensive specialized training in crisis response and tactical operations and has served as the department’s Active Shooter Response Instructor and Firearms Instructor.

Over the course of his 17-plus year career with the Summit Police Department, he has received numerous letters of commendation, appreciation and awards from both citizens and other law enforcement agencies.

"I stand before you tonight deeply honored and humbled to accept the role of Chief of Police," stated Peters at the meeting. "This is not a responsibility I take lightly, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me to lead this department and serve our great community."

Peters continued: "To the residents of Summit, I pledge to you to lead with transparency and accountability. Your safety and well-being will always be my top priority, and I will work tirelessly to foster a department that is deeply connected to the community."

Click here to watch this portion of the council meeting on the City of Summit YouTube channel.