The LaGrange Police Department hosted National Night Out Tuesday night, and other law enforcement agencies took part as well.

The night included fun, games and gave locals a chance to get to know local police officers, firefighters, EMTs and other first responders.

Children had a chance to try on police gear and to get into law enforcement vehicles. We’ve written this before, but it’s worth repeating again: One of the strengths of a police force is in community trust and in the relationships built between law enforcement and citizens.

Events like National Night Out build that trust by reminding the community that police officers are just like the rest of us. They get up, do a job — a very important one — and have families to get home to. 

When police are open about their work, it builds connections in the community. When the community steps up to help police officers solve crimes, it makes it easier to put the lawbreakers in jail. 

We appreciate all of the law enforcement agencies that came together to put Tuesday’s event together. It was a great night, one that brought our community even closer together.