On Tuesday, Columbus Police Department will ask residents to come out to show unity against crime.

CPD will host its annual “Night Out Against Crime,” which is part of the National Night Out Against Crime Event organized by the National Association of Town Watch. National Night Out encourages police departments and community residents to come together to strengthen their relationships.

The event will last from 5 to 8 p.m. in seven locations: East Columbus Gym, First United Methodist Church’s back parking lot, North Haven Wood Park, Sandfield Community Center, Sim Scott Community Center and Townsend Community Center. The Plantation Point retirement home will also host a Night Out event for its residents.

CPD Community Relations Officer Rhonda Sanders said Columbus started hosting the Night Out events about 20 years ago when a former police chief and some women from South Side began organizing them.

Sanders said CPD will give out school supplies, food and crime prevention literature at the Night Out events. Community organizations, such as Community Counseling Services, will also be on hand.

She described the events as “big block parties” where the public can talk to police. She said police, in turn, can get a better feel for issues facing residents and how to address them.

“That’s very important,” she said. “You never know when the police department is going to need the public. We need each other to keep things running smoothly in Columbus.

“This is about building a connection between the people and police department so they can come forward and have a conversation,” she added.

Sanders said the mayor and city council members will appear at as many Night Out locations as they can. Because the event is the same night as a city council meeting, and because Columbus will have more Night Out locations than normal, she said she wasn’t certain the mayor and council will make it to every event.

In past events, the Columbus event spanned four locations. It grew this year, Sanders said, thanks to successes in organizing more active neighborhood watches throughout the city.

Sandra DePriest, a member of the East Columbus Neighborhood Watch and priest at Good Shepard Episcopal Church, said the East Columbus location will have food, music face painting and other activities.

She said the Night Out will be a good way to let area children learn more about their community. Just as importantly, she said, it’s a chance to strengthen the community by bringing it together.

“It’s excellent,” she said. “We’ve had some violence in Columbus and could maybe do with some healing. Maybe not just with the police, because we have a wonderful police presence in East Columbus, but healing in the sense of fear of being out in the community. I think this will help with that fear.”

Sanders said Columbus has eight active neighborhood watches. She said three others have programs, and are in the process of becoming more active.

“Active means email, calling and getting information to departments on things that are going on in the community,” Sanders said. “Now we have eight that are shooting us emails every day. We’re having a good conversation every day. That’s a good thing.”

Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.