On August 1, citizens of Demopolis are asked to come out and party with the police.

The Demopolis Police Department is inviting the citizens of Demopolis to help them celebrate the 23rd Annual Night Out.

The event, which is geared towards eliminating crime and drugs from the community,

“It’s a good way for the people to get out and meet the officers,” said Sergeant Tim Williams.

Williams and the Demopolis Police Department have been involved with the National Night Out program for at least the past five years and Williams has served as the point person for the past four.

“It always irks me whenever I see someone tell their kids ‘that police officer is going to take you to jail if you don’t act right,'” said Williams.

“I don’t want kids to be scared of us. I want them to come to us if they need us. I want them to feel comfortable around us.”

According to a press release issued by the Demopolis Police Department, the National Night Out program will involve over 10,000 communities throughout the nation and most of the world.

The program has a multi-fold purpose. The first is to heighten drug and crime prevention awareness. Generate support for and participation in, local anti-crime efforts. Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and lastly, send a message to criminals letting them know the neighborhoods are organized and fighting.

“We’ll have police officers out there,” said Williams. “We are trying to get some representatives from the fire department to come. But we know that members of the Corp of Engineers will be there.”

This year the National Night Out in Demopolis will be held at US Jones Elementary School between the hours of 6-9 p.m.

“I moved it form the boat landing because I hadn’t gotten the turnout I had hoped,” said Williams. “We had the idea to have it at US Jones where everyone can walk to it if they wanted to.”

There will be food and for fun for all, according to the DPD’s release. There will be a dunking booth, so people can attempt to dunk their favorite, or not so favorite, police officer. There will also be an inflatable slide and jumping booth.

The event is also free to the public.

“This is a night for America to stand together to promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity,” said Matt Peskin.

Peskin currently serves as the National Project Coordinator.

“National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight to build a safer nation.”

The theme for this year’s party is simply, “Give crime and drugs a going away party.