Bi-City residents take National Night Out Against Crime

From the Holly Hills neighborhood in Columbus to Tin Top City in south Phenix City, residents turned out for a series of police convoys, block parties, marches against crime and other activities for the annual National Night Out.

Residents in both cities got a chance to meet law enforcement officers who help keep their communities safe. It marked the 32nd year of America's Night Out Against Crime, with 37.8 million people across the country taking part in events with public safety personnel.

"This is a friendly interaction," Columbus Police Sgt. Donald Bush said. "These people are inviting us to be a part of their community. We go there with the blue lights and sirens, but yet they know that we go there to be proactive and make the neighborhood safer."

Bush said that bond has the potential to prevent crime by making people more willing to report criminal activity and join neighborhood watch groups.

"They'll say I really want this to be a safer place for me to work, play and live," Bush said.

About 50 residents joined the Phenix City Police Department and the Russell County Sheriff's Office at Mount Mariah Baptist Church for nearly a mile march through Tin Top City, an area dealing with serious crimes. Police Capt. Gail Green said the city has about 20 Neighborhood Watch programs but the annual event gives police a chance to show its presence and encourage people to call if they have a problem.

"The county is here, the city is here and we are showing a united front," Green said before residents left the church parking lot at 1403 Third St. S. "We do work together, the county and the city."

Chief Deputy William Alexander of the sheriff's office said this is the first year the two agencies have come together for the national event. Deputies can meet residents in a positive manner.

"We aren't all bad guys," he said. "This gives us a chance to walk with the children in this community. All lives matter."

In Columbus, more than 100 people joined officials as they visited various recreation centers, parks and residential areas, including Forrest Park, Holly Hills, Frank Chester Recreation Center, East Urban Heights, Hilton Heights, Pop Austin Recreation Center and 26 other sites.

The Columbus Police Department, Muscogee County Sheriff's Office, Muscogee County Marshal's Office, Columbus State University Police Department, Animal Control and Columbus Fire & EMS were among the agencies to participate. Several residents were stationed at the sites to welcome first responders with a block party. Officials introduced themselves to some and reunited with others as they worked to build on the relationship between the community and law enforcement.

National Night Out wasn't the only local event held Tuesday night to improve the community. The Rose Hill Memorial Baptist Church and Citizen's Law Enforcement Academy worked together to provide free school supplies to the students in the community. Thanks to donations from the public, the groups collected more than $700 worth of school supplies, including pencils, paper, glue sticks, folders and pencils. James Smith of the Citizen's Law Enforcement Academy said young people with the proper education are less likely to participate in criminal activity, which benefits the entire community.

"We tried to give out the main things that we knew kids were going to need," he said. "We are working together to try to keep our neighborhoods safe, but we also want to impact our kids."

In Phenix City, the Rev. Randy Alexander, who grew up in the area, joined the marchers to call attention to the April 13 death of his nephew, Leon Harmon. The 29-year-old man was shot multiple times outside of Richardson Lounge. Police are still looking for the gunman. "It's very serious to me," he said of neighborhood crime. "Once you take a life, you can't give it back. A lot of young people need to wake up and realize that."

His daughter, Savannah, wore a black T-shirt with a picture of Harmon on the front.

"We don't want this in our area, not just our area, but we want this to stop all over," he said. "We've got to be concerned." Harking back to a time when many said, "It Takes a Village" to raise a child, Tiesha Williams said the village is no longer there for many troubled youth. She started the agency We Have a Purpose LLC to keep youth from getting a criminal record.

"Kids are basically raising themselves," she said. "They are taking to the streets versus the streets trying to save them. The streets are destroying them."

When a youth commits a misdemeanor offense and is referred from the juvenile justice system, Williams helps them take responsibility for their actions and provides them with community service, counseling, anger management and other programs.

Many run afoul of the law through marijuana possession, domestic violence, thefts and obstruction of a police officer, she said. The majority of the cases are possession of marijuana, she said.

Residents filed outside their homes and waved as marchers moved up 16th Avenue and south on 17th Avenue before returning to the church. The march included Phenix City Councilmembers Arthur Day and Gail Head and Mayor Eddie Lowe joined the last leg of the march. District Court Judge Walter Gray III also was part of the marchers.

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 11:10 PM with the headline "Bi-City residents take National Night Out Against Crime ."