Community members will have a chance to interact with law enforcement and learn more about what they do with the 32nd annual National Night Out in October.

The Selma Police Department is hosting the event on Oct. 6 from 6-9 p.m. at the Riverfront Amphitheater and the George P. Evans Reception Hall.

“It is part of our community policing, where we get out and interact with the community to let them know that we’re here for them,” said Lt. Natasha Fowlkes with the Selma Police Department. “We come to work and show up to work to serve and protect them, and we’re normal people just like they are.”

The event will allow people to meet officers with several different law enforcement agencies that are present in Selma and Dallas County.

“We will have some other law enforcement officers there as well, including the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, a representative of Congresswoman Terri Sewell and a representative of Rep. Darrio Melton’s office,” Fowlkes said. “And of course, our city government will be there to get out and interact with the community.”

The event aims to focus on the relationship between a community and its law enforcement officers, as well as crime prevention and neighborhood watch programs.

“I encourage the citizens to come out and be a part of this because we know that crime is increasing in our community, and if they don’t step up and take a stand, who will?” Fowlkes asked.

“Let them be the spokesman to talk for their communities. Show these criminals that you’re no longer going to be quiet, that you’re no longer going to go in your house and let down the blinds. They need to take action to help us evict these criminals out of their neighborhoods.”

While National Night Out is about developing a relationship between law enforcement and the community, it is also about having fun for youngsters in the community.

“We’ll have face painting, train rides and dunking booths,” Fowlkes said. “We’ll have our K-9 demonstration from our K-9 Unit. We will have a reception for the community. They can go to the George P. Evans Reception Hall and have free food and drinks.”

Fowlkes said she hopes the interaction will give people a better idea of what police officers do and encourage them to keep their eyes and ears open.

“It takes them to help us to do our job. They’re our eyes and ears for the department to make our job easier,” Fowlkes said. “We rely on them. There are more eyes and ears with them than there is with us, so we rely on them.”

District Attorney Michael Jackson, who will be at the event, said it is also a good opportunity for neighbors to get to know each other.

“Sometimes people live right beside each other and they don’t talk, so in that kind of atmosphere they might actually talk and communicate with each other,” Jackson said. “Once the neighbors and all are communicating, if they see somebody breaking the law or breaking into somebody’s car or home, they are more likely to report that if they feel like that neighbor is a friend.”

National Night Out is a free event. For more information, contact the Selma Police Department at 874-2120.