He may not be leaving town, but he is leaving the saddle as head of New Bern’s finest, so members of city clergy gathered with a handful of Police Chief Toussaint Summers. Jr.’s staff on Wednesday afternoon to wish thank him and wish him well.
Chief Summers, who became the city’s first Black police chief in 2011 will retire on March 19. His replacement, Patrick Gallagher, will take over on the 22nd. Summers has stated that he and his wife, Cheryl, will remain in New Bern as residents.
The gathering took place under the pavilion at Lawson Creek Park at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Along with officers and ministers, a New Bern Fire Department truck was on hand to give him a siren salute.