Lavonia Night Out Against Crime Tonight

photo-3Lavonia Police will be reaching out to the community tonight when they sponsor their annual Lavonia Night Out.

Lavonia Night Out is based on the National Night Out Against Crime, a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Hall Watch.

Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle said the event in downtown Lavonia is free.

This is the 13th year Lavonia Police have offered the free evening block party, which is designed to build bridges between law enforcement and the community.

Carlisle said Lavonia Night Out gives people in the community a chance to get to know his officers as people.

 “Community oriented policing is, in my opinion, the only way to do law enforcement today,” Carlisle said. “We need eyes and ears out in the community in places we can’t be all the time. I get phone calls daily from people in the community about things that they see and I send my investigators out to follow up on them.”

According to Carlisle, the annual block party has been successful in helping people in Lavonia learn to trust his officers.

Carlisle said his department spends a lot of time doing undercover work and make a good many arrests based on the tips and cooperation they receive from citizens.

“Community oriented policing is, in my opinion, the only way to do law enforcement today,” Carlisle said. “We need eyes and ears out in the community in places we can’t be all the time. I get phone calls daily from people in the community about things that they see and I send my investigators out to follow up on them.”

As a result, Carlisle said they have a good many arrests because of the good relationship they have with the community.

Lavonia Night Out Against Crime starts at 5p at the Gazebo in downtown Lavonia and is free.

Events this year include free entertainment, free eye and health screenings, as well as free food.

Also, the Lavonia Fire Department will have the fire smoke house there to tour, the Franklin County EMS will be there with their equipment as well as the Forestry Commission.