URBANDALE, Iowa — Millions of citizens and law enforcement officers all over the country met up Tuesday night in communities for the annual National Night Out. 

It was a night to bridge the gap between people and police departments in neighborhoods, while also bringing awareness to crime and drug prevention. 

Several of these gatherings happened in Central Iowa, including one of the largest in the metro area: Urbandale. 

This was Urbandale’s 16th year celebrating with a National Night Out event. They had over 60 vendors, free food, K9 demonstrations, a donut eating contest and kids bouncy houses. There also was a Blackhawk helicopter that landed next to the station for people to see. 

The point of the night was to have conversations and be around law enforcement in good times, not just bad. Police often see people on their worst days. They wanted to interact with the community in different circumstances. 

“It means a lot to me because when I came into this profession, I wanted to build those relationships with the community to really show what officers are. We’re humans too. And yes, we have to do law enforcement, but a lot of times we’re doing a lot more than law enforcement,” Urbandale Officer Collin Ten Haken said. “We’re building relationships with the community, we’re playing counselor, we’re playing mediator. We wear a lot of hats. And when we can come out to the public, have these events and just have a really good conversation, get to know them, fill up that bucket of relationships with the community and feel pretty good about it.”

Des Moines Police Department celebrated their 36th year of a National Night Out. There were more than 20 events around the city Tuesday. 

“Every year it seems to grow and grow and grow. It’s basically turned into a citywide block party, and it’s an opportunity for us to get out and engage with the folks in the neighborhoods. Meet the kids and the families and do it at a time where there’s not an emergency or a crisis,” DMPD Sgt. Paul Parizek said. “It’s so we can start building those relationships that are sustainable when we do have a crisis. And the familiarity helps us get through tough times. It’s actually just a lot of fun, too.”

Whether it’s serious or playful, the officers want to interact with people at these events.

“You can ask anything. You could first ask if they have a cop card with them and they can hand that out,” Officer Ten Haken said. “You can ask them what’s their favorite part of the job. Sometimes you can ask a fun story they have or anything cool. A lot of times people say, ‘have you ever been in a pursuit? Have you ever had to run after somebody?’ So a lot of times officers will tell stories if they want.”

This is a chance to get to know law enforcement, who are also a part of the community. 

“It’s important now because there has been a lot of misunderstanding. I mean, there have been some issues that needed to be worked through, but there’s also been a lot of misunderstanding where people hear things, and they might fill in the blanks,” Sgt. Parizek said. “And the best way to really feel connected to your police department is to get to know your police department. We learn a lot about each other. When we’re out there. We learn, you know, hey, we go to the same gym or, you know, our kids go to the same schools and things like that that connect us on a real basic level. But one of those levels that is going to help us as we continue to grow those relationships.”