JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Law enforcement and first responders were out in force Tuesday evening giving the Jacksonville Beach community a close look at the faces behind the uniforms protecting them every day.
It was part of the annual National Night Out, which takes place in thousands of communities across the country.
"We have a lot of vendors out here to show off what the community does, what community leaders do, what the government does and different entities that help the city out," said Sgt. Larry Smith with the Jacksonville Beach Police Department.
The goal of the event is to bring people together, build stronger relationships between the community and law enforcement, and raise awareness about crime prevention.
Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue explained to young families their watch towers and rescue equipment, while kids had fun crawling around the lifeguard truck. The U.S. Coast Guard even brought in a boat with mounted artillery.
There was also child fingerprinting, free bicycle helmets and bike registration.
National Night Out was also a chance for the News4Jax team to connect with the community we also serve. Storm Track 4 drew a crowd but wasn't as jaw dropping for the kids as the Sky 4 helicopter was.
Jacksonville
The Northeast Florida Community Action Agency, Inc. (NFCAA) sponsored a National Night Out Against Crime event in the North Riverside area.
NFCAA provided free food, and the event included face painting, music, a game truck, dance contests, bounce house and cake walk.
St Johns County
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office was be at the St. Augustine Beach Pier for its National Night Out event.
The community got a chance to see Air 1, K9s, and SWAT vehicles up close and personal -- all while meeting officers in the county.