It was an early morning for Doug Arp.

Before dawn today, the retired Vicksburg police officer and National Night Out Against Crime advocate was busy preparing to spend this week in a swimming pool outside the Culkin Volunteer Fire Station to promote the 27th annual national campaign.

This year’s theme is “Neighborhoods need to pool their resources against crime.”

With the help of friends John Adams, Fawn Francis and her 7-year-old son, Bram Francis, Arp transformed the station at Culkin and Freetown roads into an eye-catching sight, complete with balloons, National Night Out plaques, newspaper articles, photographs and chalk art to boost the yearly event, set for Aug. 3, a week from today. Arp will exit the pool the day before.