For its participation in the 2017 National Night Out event, the Farmville Police Department ranked 14th out of approximately 300 police departments in towns with populations between 5,000 and 15,000.

According to the National Night Out website, the event is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.

“National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community,” officials said on the website. “Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.”

The website cites that millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August.

“National Night Out is such a great opportunity for officers to connect with residents,” said Farmville Police Chief A.Q. “Andy” Ellington. “Each year since 2011, Farmville, Virginia, has been an award-winning community, and we are proud to have received an award this year for yet another great event.”

Lt. Christopher W. Moss noted that the first year Farmville participated in National Night Out was 2010 and that it didn’t register to compete.

He said most of the credit for preparation for National Night Out goes to the community, as it is involved in a majority of it. Moss said that he goes to community members in April for the August event, and they immediately get to work on it.