Public Safety

Racial slurs found at Berkeley Heights' Lower Columbia Park

By Summit Area News staff · November 2, 2026 · 1 min read

Red brick municipal building with police station and library entrances under a blue sky. — The Berkeley Heights municipal complex, which houses the Berkeley Heights Police Department. Police are investigating a bias incident in which racial slurs were found written at Lower Columbia Park on Oct. 30. Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Racial slurs were found at Lower Columbia Park in Berkeley Heights on the morning of Oct. 30, and police are investigating.

The Berkeley Heights Police Department said the slurs were discovered written at the park, as first reported by the Newport Dispatch.

Chief of Police Frank Mea said in a statement released Sunday, Nov. 1, that the department "takes incidents of this nature seriously and is committed to identifying those responsible."

"This type of hateful and offensive behavior has no place in our community," Mea said.

Residents with information about the incident can reach Detective Bryan McLaughlin at 908-464-1111 or by email at [email protected].

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Jessica Henry

News Producer

Jessica is an Emmy-nominated journalist and newsroom leader with a passion for impactful storytelling. Her work has spanned both local and national media, including television news and podcast production. Throughout her career, she has led news teams across the Northeast, overseeing coverage of major breaking news events, severe weather, and high-profile investigations, while helping shape content that reached audiences across local and national platforms. She believes local journalism is the heartbeat of every community, keeping residents informed and connected when it matters most. Now based in Texas, Jessica is embracing life with her husband and newborn son while continuing her love of storytelling. Away from work, she enjoys family time on the boat, beach days, and exploring the charm of coastal towns and seaside shops.