Ten convoys of law enforcement officers, city leaders and first responders fanned out across Columbus on Tuesday during this year’s National Night Out to connect and build stronger relationships with residents — and just have some fun.
“National Night Out is a night that the citizens and the police department come together in collaboration just to celebrate the stomping out of crime,” Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis told the Ledger-Enquirer. “Our goal here in Columbus is to do two things: We want to build relationships, we want to reduce crime, and tonight does just that.”
U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Albany) greeted Mathis with a salute as multiple agencies, including the Columbus Police Department, Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Fire & EMS, assembled in the Columbus Civic Center parking lot for the scheduled 6 p.m. departure…