The Selma Police Department hosted its 32nd annual National Night Out Tuesday night at the Riverfront Amphitheater to bring the community together with law enforcement officers.

The event is geared toward building relationships between law enforcement officers and members of the community, but it was also a way to recognize neighborhood watch groups and encourage more people to form their own.

Lt. Natasha Fowlkes with the Selma Police Department recognized nine different neighborhood watch groups Tuesday night and encouraged people at National Night Out to take a stand against crime in Selma and Dallas County.

“We want to recognize them because we know that whenever you are trying to do something positive for the community, you’re going to always have some roadblocks, and it takes hard work and dedication to put on a successful neighborhood watch,” Fowlkes said.

Fowlkes said some community members are afraid to start a watch group, but taking a stand can make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

“It takes some courage and dedication to do this, so that is why we wanted to recognize people,” Fowlkes said. “Some people out there want to form a neighborhood watch but are afraid of retaliation or being labeled as a snitch, so we just want to recognize the people who have put in hard work and dedication and not worrying about the naysayers.”

One of the nine groups recognized was one in Old Town, which is led by Jacque Johnson. She has been involved with the watch group for nine years.

“I send out emails letting people know if there is a crime problem in the neighborhood, if somebody has lost their dog or if somebody has found a cat,” Johnson said. “We just try to keep the neighbors in touch with neighbors.”

Johnson said having a watch group has a direct impact on the neighborhood and has even helped solve crimes.

“We’ve had some luck with somebody saying they had been burglarized and are missing certain items, and then somebody else has found those items and gotten in touch with me to be able to give them their merchandise back,” Johnson said.

Johnson said she encourages anyone who is thinking of starting a watch group to do so.

“I think they should go for it. I have helped a couple of different neighborhoods try to start groups in the past here in Selma and over in Selmont, and I think it is really beneficial. It can’t hurt,” Johnson said. “Many times it can get folks to know their neighbors too because so many times people don’t know beside maybe their next door neighbors.”

Anyone interested in starting a neighborhood watch group can call Lt. Natasha Fowlkes at 874-5261.