Area law enforcement agencies hope to strengthen connections with their communities by hosting National Night Out events all over the Golden Triangle with free food, drinks and fun educational activities.
National Night Out is a community-building campaign that aims to make neighborhoods safer by enhancing the relationships agencies have with their communities through block parties hosted annually on the first Tuesday of each August.
There will be a block party hosted by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office from 5-8 p.m. at its office.
“We just want to explain what we have going on in our community, what we have to offer, and we want to build that rapport with our deputies and community,” Lt. Rhonda Sanders said. “We want people to know that the sheriff’s department does more than just arrest people.”
Those attending the event will be offered free chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs, and there will be bounce houses, face painting, police vehicles, fire engines, drone team demonstrations and information booths, including for voter registration and neighborhood watch opportunities. There will also be free gun locks while supplies last and haircuts for school-age children.
The community is encouraged to participate in a food drive by bringing canned or non-perishable items for local outdoor food pantries. Donors will be entered to win a free dinner for two at Old Hickory Steakhouse.
Columbus Police Department will host events from 6-8 p.m. at Sim Scott Community Center, Townsend Community Center, East Columbus Gym and Sandfield Community Center.
Glenda Richardson, community liaison, said each councilman will go to the location nearest his or her ward, and the mayor and police chief will visit each location. This marks a change from previous years, when councilmen, the mayor and police chief would travel to six different ward block parties together.
Richardson said each event will have its own menu, vendors and bounce houses. The block party at East Columbus Gym will also have a blood drive, she said.
Starkville
In Starkville, the fun will be hosted by the police department from 6-9 p.m. at the Sportsplex on Lynn Lane. Cpl. Kenya Bibbs said the event will be similar to last year’s.
“This is a big community event for young people to come together, to bring awareness to crime … and for the citizens to know that Starkville Police Department is always there to protect and serve our citizens, no matter what,” Bibbs said.
Bibbs said there will be free cake, pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cake, soda and water. The department has more than 53 vendors lined up for a resource fair, she said, including Starkville Pregnancy Center, a voter registration booth and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
In addition to face painting and bounce houses, the main attraction will be a petting zoo with as many as 18 animals. Bibbs said there will also be horses and patrol vehicles from Mississippi Highway Patrol, along with other department vehicles.
West Point
In West Point, festivities will be held from 5-8 p.m. at the police department. After eating the free cookout food, visitors can browse 18 vendors, including businesses from across the Golden Triangle.
To fund the block party, West Point Police Department is selling raffle tickets in partnership with Gary’s Pawn and Gun. The drawing for the H4 Goldenboy .22-caliber long rifle will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Tickets are $5 each or five for $20 and can be purchased from an officer or by calling (662) 494-1244 before the block party.
Flashlight walks will take place after dark, which WPPD Cpt. Arnie Cade said are a national symbol representing the solidarity between officers and the community.
“Community partners and neighborhoods will get together, and they’ll form a group within their own neighborhood,” Cade said. “They’re encouraged to turn their porch lights on, come outside and meet with their neighbors and officers that are on the street.”
Cade said he hopes everyone will take the chance to get to know their local law enforcement officers.
“We would like for our entire community to show up next Tuesday at 5 o’clock,” Cade said. “We’d like to have a big turnout.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 38 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.