Police officers across the nation and in New York City will be out in several communities Tuesday to build relationships with the people they serve.

NYPD officers are expected to gather at the Bruckner Common for National Night Out, a campaign that looks to build warm relations between police and the communities they serve.

Crime analyst Rick James says these kinds of connections are crucial. 

“You've got to build those relationships before you need the citizens and you want to build that relationship so they can reach out to you when they need your help,” he says. 

James says these kinds of events help to make recognizable faces in the community.

As a retired police officer with roughly 30 years in law enforcement, James says he knows the importance of community policing. 

National Night Out is typically held on the first Tuesday in August, dating back to 1970. Neighbors are encouraged to come out for food, games, music and safety demonstrations.

The campaign's website says the day, "promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live."

James says, “But a lot of times, it's the first-time community members have gotten an opportunity to meet and talk to each other. Then you can talk about community-policing strategies, you can talk about the things in the community that need improvement, you can build coalitions, it's a win-win for everybody."

For a list of National Night Out events across the city, click here.