MESQUITE, Nev. — The recent capture of fugitives from St. George in Mesquite has spurred appreciation for Southern Nevada’s first responders, many of whom were in attendance at a celebration last week.

The event was held as part of the National Night Out promotion in recognition of the Mesquite police and fire departments. The night gave community members the opportunity to learn more about first responders and was held on the fields west of the Mesquite Recreation Center at 100 West Old Mill Road.

National Night Out is a community-building campaign that promotes police and community partnerships. The National Night Out was introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch as a means of crime prevention.

Mesquite Mayor Al Litman said the city is a welcoming community, except when it comes to fugitives, who he told to stay away or face justice.

“It was an opportune time to get the families together to introduce them to our public safety people,” he said of the event. “It helps alleviate the fears that people have of public safety officers, particularly police.”

Mesquite Police Sgt. Wyatt Oliver said in years past the event was called “Mesquite Night Out” but was renamed this year to bring the focus back on the police and fire, reengaging the community members that joined them for the night.

“The Mesquite Police Department and other first responder agencies are only as strong as the community support behind them,” he said.

Community members had the opportunity to sit in the SWAT armored unit, police vehicles and emergency response helicopters. Visitors were also allowed to try on tactical gear, try out handcuffs, help train K-9 canine officers and carry battering rams or battery-powered extrication equipment. A pellet gun training course with local police officers trained kids and adults how to properly fire and handle guns.

The fire and emergency response personnel gave tips for fire prevention, extinguishing fires, hiking tips and 72-hour emergency kits.

Popular vehicles included the McGruff Crime Dog police vehicle, the Mesquite Police SWAT armored vehicle and several Las Vegas Metropolitan motorcycles.

As part of the police demonstrations, six volunteers demonstrated how non-lethal tools work and received a taze. Officers demonstrated how bean bag rounds and rubber bullets work. Attendees felt the shock waves in the air of a stun grenade. No one was shot with the non-lethal projectiles, and everyone was out of the affected area of the stun grenade. K-9 canine officers demonstrated locating drugs in a vehicle.

Mesquite Fire Public Information Officer Captain Spencer Lewis said this year, they had no vendors or private businesses, only public sector agencies.

“It kept it what it was supposed to be for — focused on the community getting to know the first responders in a positive light,” he said.

Several agencies were present from throughout Southern Nevada and the nearby Beaver Dam, Arizona, area, including Mesquite Police, Mesquite Fire and Rescue, Clark County Fire Department, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Clark County School District Police Department, Nevada Department of Public Safety, Nevada Department of Public Safety: Probation and Parole, Nevada Fish and Game, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire and Rescue, Mohave County Search and Rescue, Community Emergency Response Team, Mercy Air and Mesquite Animal Control.

Oliver offered thanks to everyone who came and supported the event, from the agencies to community members, including the people who traveled there from Southern Utah.

“We are extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful relationship with the city and the success of the Police and Fire Night is proof of that,” Oliver said.

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