Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Lawrence Wiggins sees National Night Out as the heartbeat of the department’s community outreach initiatives.

On August 4, Wiggins, alongside the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office and the Weldon Police Department, will hold the second National Night Out under his command.

“It’s one evening where we get to dedicate all of our attention and resources to just being around members of the community,” he said. “That makes it a little easier because we were able to plan it. Barring anything catastrophic, we are not going to allow anything to pull us away.”

National Night Out, which will be held at the Kirkwood Adams Community Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., will feature the popular Raleigh band The Switch. The Switch's performance is made possible through the HCSO and WPD.

Leading up to NNO, the police department will hold a Pops with a Cop event on August 1 at Tractor Supply from noon to 3 p.m., featuring Popsicles and several live demonstrations.

On August 31 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., the department will be at the Chaloner Recreation Center for its bi-monthly community meeting, where attendees are presented with crime stats for the previous two months.

“Then we open it up for comments and discussions, and we listen if they have a complaint,” Wiggins said. “The turnout could be better. A lot of people have quite a lot to say from behind a keyboard.”

The bi-monthly meetings give residents the opportunity to talk face-to-face — not only about problems, but about solutions, Wiggins said. “This isn’t my community. This is our community. Public safety isn’t just the Roanoke Rapids Police Department’s job. Every member of the community has a social responsibility to its safety and well-being.”

He emphasized that residents need to take ownership of their community — not just complaining, but stepping forward with solutions. “The government isn’t going to be the one that corrects every problem. Sometimes it takes people in the community to band together and say they have a solution and that this is their neighborhood.”

The police department, Wiggins said, “will partner with any neighborhood and community for a Neighborhood Watch or anything we can do to help the citizens feel safer. We can’t be everywhere. One of the things to help start those conversations is the bi-monthly community meetings.”

Reflecting on their ongoing community outreach efforts, the chief said, “National Night Out may be the heartbeat because every police department and every community tries to have a staple event, and National Night Out has become a staple for law enforcement agencies and communities to get together. It’s the centerpiece, coming just past the halfway mark of the year right before kids go back to school.”

Wiggins credited Tina May and Captain Gorton Williams for spearheading the event. “They both take charge of it,” he said.

He also expressed gratitude for the ongoing support of the HCSO and WPD. “We want to thank them for stepping in and continuing to partner with us. We talk regularly and we support each other.”

Wiggins noted that there will be civic organizations, vendors, and food trucks at the event. The police department is still seeking additional vendors and food trucks; interested parties can call May at 252-533-2814 by July 31 to reserve a spot.

At the heart of the event, he said, “is just bringing the community together to have a good time. It’s a time for people to come out, not worry about money because it’s free, and just enjoy themselves.”