Hundreds of Warren County and Vicksburg residents cooked out with law officials Tuesday in support of the 26th Annual National Night Out Against Crime at several venues, including City Park.

Dean Anderson of Mothers Against Drunk Driving said last year’s event could not compare.

“It’s extraordinary to have this many here for prevention,” she said, gazing at the people in and around the pavilion near the municipal pool on Lee Street.

The events are designed, in part, to help neighbors meet each other and gain an awareness of how their property can be safeguarded by teamwork. The events also are a chance to meet law enforcement leaders.

Vicksburg police mingled with neighbors to foster relationships, Police Chief Walter Armstrong said, and the event was an “opportunity to promote law enforcement and safety.” Patrolmen also gave away school supplies.

Vicksburg Police Lt. Bobby Stewart supported the event from inside a dunking booth at the pavilion. He said he lost count after he had been dunked 20 times.

Patrolman Bobby Jones, who also spent time in the booth, strolled from the pavilion to Bowmar Avenue with other lawmen, firefighters, residents and McGruff the Crime Dog.

Only a few blocks away on Drummond Street, Bill and Marilyn Corley hosted their first crime awareness cookout in their backyard for neighbors and retired police officer Doug Arp, who spent last week promoting the event in a Mississippi Materials Corp. cement truck at the Culkin Volunteer Fire Department.

“We’re retired, so we decided to cook for them,” Marilyn Corley said.

Arp commended the Corleys along with other residents for helping officials in crime prevention.

“The more people you know, the more you look after,” he said.

Arp kicked off the campaign on the Warren County Courthouse steps Tuesday afternoon, where he showed his appreciation for local business, law enforcement and resident support. Last year, he lived in a trash bin at Culkin and Freetown roads. Before that he lived in a fountain at Pemberton Square mall, a Bradley armored vehicle, a phone booth, underground chambers, an elevated patrol car, a wrecked car and on a billboard to promote the campaign.

Warren County deputies also distributed literature about neighborhood watches.

Investigator Sam Winchester said he had been passing out material and talking with residents about safety for the past week.

Other deputies drove through neighborhoods visiting residents Tuesday, he said.

AmeriCorps member Peter Christian of Pennsylvania said the event “seems like the sort of thing that should be done everywhere.”

Officials here initiated events and in 1996 started encouraging community cookouts. Having participated every year, North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said the events bring people of all races and classes together with law officials.

“They patiently await this day. Then they come out in masses,” he said.

More than 15,000 communities across the country, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide have events. More than 37 million people participated in National Night Out in 2008.

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Contact Tish Butts at tbutts@vicksburgpost.com