NATCHEZ — For many, Tuesday night is just election night.

But for law enforcement officers, it’s also National Night Out.

The night is a chance for the members of the law enforcement community to come together and meet and greet the people they serve.

The night begins when officers leave the Natchez Police Department.

“We’ll leave from the police department roughly around 1:30 p.m. and then we will go to Ferriday first,” Natchez Police Department Detective Jerry Ford said.

The stops will begin at Haney’s Big House in Ferriday at approximately 2 p.m., and then continue approximately every 15 minutes afterwards.

“Sometimes it might run just a tad bit more, but we try to stay to schedule,” Ford said.

The convoy will proceed to Vidalia and stop at Concordia Bank, the Recreation Center, Walnut St. Community Health Center and the Resource Center.

The Natchez stops will be at Providence Ball Park, 2709 Roselawn Drive and Marquette Avenue, Parkway Baptist Church, 301 McNealy Road, West Stiers Lane, Minor Street and Woodlawn Avenue, wrapping up at approximately 7 p.m.

Ford said members from the Vidalia Police Department, Ferriday Police Department, Natchez Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Department, Concordia Sheriff’s Office, Wilkinson County Police Department and the Mississippi Highway Patrol should be present.

“I think even Jefferson County may send a unit or two,” Ford said.

Members of the Crime Stoppers Board, a hotline which allows people to report crimes anonymously and be rewarded, will also join officials to help educate people on how to report a crime.

Each stop will have something different, put on by members of the Neighborhood Watch.

Ford has been participating in the National Night Out for the past 17 years, and has some good memories of the night. He said he loves to see children’s reactions.

“You have kids get real excited when they see the convoy of law enforcement officers,” Ford said.

Last year, on Lower Woodville Road in Natchez, he said a live band was performing and the community greeted officers enthusiastically.

“It was very touching to see people who actually thought so well of law enforcement and wanted them to come into their community,” Ford said.

Lt. James Bozeman of the Vidalia Police Department has been participating in the National Night Out ever since he joined in 2011.

“This gives us a chance to socialize and get to know each other across the river as well as here in our local area,” Bozeman said, referring to residents and police officers.

Because it is also election night, Ford encourages residents to go out and vote early so they can enjoy the festivities.

“We don’t want to dampen the election and we don’t want to dampen National Night Out,” Ford said.