Fort Dodge area residents will have a chance to meet their local law enforcement officers during a special event Thursday evening on the City Square.

It’s called Night to Unite, and it will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Fort Dodge Police Chief Dennis Quinn described Night to Unite as “just a way for us to show the people all of these different organizations that are there to help them.”

He said it provides an opportunity to meet officers and see their patrol vehicles and equipment at a time when they are not at an emergency or other call for service.

Participating agencies include the Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Webster County Attorney’s Office, Fort Dodge Fire Department, Youth Shelter Care, Fort Dodge Recreation Department, Athletics for Education and Success, Domestic and Sexual Assault Outreach Center and Juvenile Court Services.

The Webster County Pork Producers will grill pork burgers while The Salvation Army will grill hot dogs.

“It’s just a good event,” Quinn said. “Come out and spend some time with some of your community helpers, meet our officers and have some food.”

If Night to Unite sounds a lot like the National Night Out Against Crime, that’s because it is a local version of that event. Quinn said National Night Out Against Crime occurs on the same day as the Back to School Bash held in August by the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge. To avoid that conflict, the local public safety and crime prevention event was moved to a date earlier in the summer and given a different name.

If You Go

What: Night to Unite

When: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: Fort Dodge City Square