Though his role will be limited this year because of a recent surgery, Vicksburg’s zaniest crime fighter will be at the reigns of a stunt Wednesday to raise awareness for National Night Out.

Retired Vicksburg police Sgt. Doug Arp’s annual stunt — themed this year as “Let’s Have Crime Hit the Trail” — will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Goldie’s Trial Bar-B-Q, 2430 South Frontage Road.

The Western themed event will feature horses from Rainbow Farms gathered around Goldie’s iconic covered wagon, Arp said.

Arp won’t be climbing atop any horses during the event to promote National Night Out.

“I had quadruple heart bypass surgery the end of last month, so I get to hold the reins, which is fine by me. I’m not a horse person anyway,” Arp said.

Arp said his dislike of horses was cemented while on a training exercise at the Mississippi State Penitentiary.

“Up at Parchman, they tricked me into riding a horse to trail the blood hounds. I thought I would die,” Arp said.

Since 1992, with a variety of stunts form living atop a billboard to spending a week inside a Dumpster, Arp has donated his time to raise awareness for National Night Out.

The featured speaker for the event is state Sen. Briggs Hopson III. Arp had invited Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice William Waller Jr. to speak, but Waller must remain in Jackson for motion hearings in the election lawsuit filed by state. Rep Chris McDaniel.

National Night Out — an awareness-raising event sponsored by members of the community and police — is set for Oct. 7.

Neighborhood Watch groups plan a number of events across the city and county for that night.