Tuesday, neighborhoods throughout the City of Jemison are invited to attend the 25th Annual National Night Out in City Park from 6-8:30 p.m.

The National Night Out is a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the City of Jemison Police Department.

Activities will include Taser demonstration, use of thermal imager, DUI awareness and practical exercise, Drug Task Force displays and awareness, Tactical Team demonstration, K-9 drug detection and demonstration, Life Saver helicopter, fire and rescue truck, face paintings, moon walk and dunking booth.

Food and drinks will also be available.

“I would like to extend an invitation to all our school kids out to the City Park before they head back to school to meet our officers and other city officials,” said Police Chief Brian Stilwell.

This national event will involve more than 11,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world, and this will be the third year the Jemison PD has participated.

In all, more than 35 million people are expected to take part in “America’s night out against crime.”

National Night Out is designed to: 1) heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; 2) generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts; 3) strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnerships; and 4) send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

From 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 5, Jemison residents are invited to lock their doors, turn on outside lights, and spend an evening outside with their neighbors and police in City Park.

“Bring your lawn chairs, plan a picnic if you like and come see displays of law enforcement equipment, firefighting equipment, rescue equipment, SWAT Team demonstrations and Life Saver helicopters as well as events for the kids,” Stilwell said. “The City of Jemison has made vast improvements in public safety, and this is an excellent opportunity to see those improvements. Our new, smaller, more efficient, and money-saving police cars will be on hand, as well as the new fire truck, rescue truck, and numerous other Jemison Police Department equipment and Chilton County Sheriff’s Office equipment.”

–from staff reports