Somerset County proclaims February 2025 Black History Month; honors Arthur “Art” Akins

The Somerset County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 11 read a proclamation recognizing February 2025 as Black History Month in Somerset County and joined county and prosecutor’s office officials in presenting a Law Enforcement Award to Arthur “Art” Akins.

County officials said the annual proclamation affirms contributions by African Americans to the county and the nation; the proclamation text was read aloud and signed by the five commissioners on the dais. The board’s remarks referenced the long civil‑rights struggle and called on citizens to reflect on the contributions of African Americans to civic, educational and social life in Somerset County.

Prosecutor’s Office staff and county law‑enforcement leaders joined the commissioners to present the local Law Enforcement Award to Akins, who accepted the award in honor of his father and spoke briefly about his father’s experience as an African American police officer in Somerville in 1957. County officials said more than 100 people attended the ceremony at the prosecutor’s office the previous Thursday.

The board also recognized two sheriff’s officers, Jimmy Brown and Lorenzo Moy Jr., for their service; the sheriff described Moy as having begun as a cadet and Brown as a former corrections officer who completed the police academy and now serves on the law side with 17 years of service.

The commissioners recessed briefly for photographs and encouraged families of honorees to join them onstage. The proclamation and the award presentations were part of the Feb. 11 work session and will be repeated at the board’s 5 p.m. meeting of commissioner reports, the chair said.

No formal vote tally was recorded in the transcript for the proclamation; the commissioners signed the proclamation during the session.