This month, we would like to introduce you to Anthony Summers. Officer Summers began working with UMB in October 2017.

Officer Summers is one of the officers assigned to the UM BioPark. He is the first line of defense for the PAL (Police Athletic/Activities League) kids and is a role model and mentor to them, serving an integral role within the Community Engagement Center. He also assists the Campus Outreach and Support Team (C.O.A.S.T.) in its efforts to help the homeless get back on their feet.

Q&A with Police Officer Anthony Summers

1. What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?
   • Helping people. We get to help people through what could be the worst day of their lives.
2. What made you decide to go into law enforcement?
   • I worked security before I became a police officer. At that time I worked with a lot of retired police who told me that I would make an outstanding police officer. They spoke of the deep bonds they fostered over their years of policing and it appealed to me.
3. What is your greatest achievement on the job?
   • One day while patrolling in the BioPark I noticed an elderly man stumbling down the street. I approached him to see if he needed assistance. He informed me that he was diabetic and that he was trying to make it home but did not feel he would make it. I was able to get an ambulance for him and get him to the hospital.
4. What is your greatest achievement outside of the job?
   • My family.
5. What is your most memorable event from your job as a police officer?
   • My supervisor did a traffic stop at Saratoga and Eutaw and requested extra officers. My fellow officers and I were quickly surrounded by a crowd of people angry about the stop. We were able to rally together and keep the crowd back while our sergeant was able to complete the traffic stop. We came together as a team and got the job done.
6. What makes for a great day on the job?
   • Getting myself and my brothers and sisters home safely to our families.
7. Knowing your job can get stressful, how do you maintain your sanity?
   • Family time and travel. My wife and I plan to travel to all seven continents. We still have three continents to go before we accomplish the goal.
8. What would you say to someone to encourage them to go into law enforcement?
   • Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work it to love what you do. 
9. Have you had any mentors in your career? If so, how have they helped?
   • My first sergeant helped me a lot through my first year of being a police officer. He was good at explaining the balance between helping people and when we have to lock people up.
10. Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
    • Hopefully in a supervisory position.