A few hundred people gathered at New Bedford's National Night Out on August 1 to interact with emergency personnel firsthand.

Dartmouth, New Bedford, Acushnet, and environmental and state police were on scene to meet-and-greet with guests, show off emergency vehicles, and pose for photos.

"It's the opportunity for the community to come out and meet first responders," said Dartmouth Detective Kyle Costa. "It's great to see the kids because they get to see the equipment."

Eight Dartmouth officers attended the event, bringing with them two motorcycles and two ATVs (used for search and rescue). The New Bedford Police had its dive trailer, used for water rescues, while the Massachusetts State Police brought SWAT vehicles.

"It's not just cruisers and handcuffs," said Costa.