That would be National Night Out, which was held Tuesday night on the City Square in front of the Fort Dodge Public Library. The nationwide event is meant to give the public a chance to interact with law enforcement, firefighters, public service agencies and even county prosecutors — all while having a good time.

Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich was one of those people enjoying himself Tuesday, even if it did involve him getting wet. He sat in the dunk tank for much of the night, more often than not ending up in the water.

“It’s cold,” he said. “The water’s a little brown and a little cold.”

Despite that, Bemrich said it was a great night, and provided a chance for all the public safety agencies across the county to interact one-on-one with the community.

Lexi Morgan, 16, of Gowrie, enjoys her last moments of freedom as Fort Dodge Police Officer Matt Meyer closes his patrol vehicle door on her. Morgan was only pretending to be arrested, and said she has never gotten in trouble with the law. She was “arrested” during the National Night Out festivities in downtown Fort Dodge Tuesday evening.

“It’s the sense of community and bringing people together,” he said. “The fall will be here before we know it. This is kind of the end of summer, beginning of fall.”

Sandra Hardman, of Fort Dodge, was at National Night Out with her family, including her daughter, Crystal Hamilton, 10, who got a prize after playing a game of ring toss.

“We’re just enjoying some family time together,” Hardman said. “We have to have some fun before school starts.”

Brandon Thoma, of Callender, was happy to receive an autograph from “Freddie Mercury,” lead singer of the rock band Queen. OK, it wasn’t the real Freddie Mercury, but was, instead, Fort Dodge Police Officer Matt Weir who portrayed the vocalist in the department’s recent Lip Sync Challenge video fronting “Somebody to Love.”

“It was pretty cool,” Thoma said. “I had no idea (he was going to be here).”

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari
Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich is all wet after falling into the dunk tank at National Night Out Tuesday in Fort Dodge.

Clayton Rogers, 17, of Fort Dodge, had the opportunity to try out equipment used by the Fort Dodge/Webster County Special Emergency Response Team.

“The vest, it was pretty heavy,” Rogers said. “And holding the shield, it felt like I could plow through anything.”

Bailen Peterson, 9, of Fort Dodge, tried his hand at climbing a rock wall with the help of the Iowa National Guard. However, despite his best efforts, he wasn’t quite able to get far off the ground.

“I was having a little trouble getting up,” he said.

Gabriella Petersen, 9, of Fort Dodge, had mixed feelings about going inside the Fort Dodge Fire Department’s smoke house, which simulated a burning house and taught kids how to get out.

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari
Siblings McCoy Cooley, 7, left, and Lia Cooley, 5, both of Fort Dodge, grab for rubber ducks at National Night Out Tuesday evening.

“You have to feel the door if there’s smoke,” she said. “And if there’s smoke, stay low. It’s really smokey in there.”

Petersen admitted she was scared of the smoke house, but also nodded when she was asked if she would do it again.

Fort Dodge Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter said it was a great opportunity to interact with the public.

“It’s a good chance to see all the kids and their parents,” he said. “I think it’s great, and they get to learn fire safety while they’re here.”

Cory Husske, assistant Fort Dodge police chief, agreed.

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari
Fort Dodge Firefighter Zach Rickman helps Gabriella Petersen, 9, of Fort Dodge, climb down from the department’s smoke house.

“It’s always fun to see the community getting together in a positive way,” he said. “It’s a positive way we can interact with everyone here and get together.”

It wasn’t just local agencies participating. Public safety agencies from outside Fort Dodge made an appearance at National Night Out as well.

Gowrie Police Department Reserve Officer John Garretson said it shows the strong partnership all the agencies have with each other.

“All the departments in the county work very well together,” he said. “The spirit of cooperation is everywhere.”