Police officers aren’t just the people who issue speeding tickets.

That’s the message Oak Harbor police Chief Ed Green was hoping to convey to people in the community Tuesday during the city’s annual National Night Out.

“They need to understand we are people just like them, and we care about the community,” he said.

The national event, held on the first Tuesday of August, is meant to raise awareness of police programs. Every community celebrates it differently — it can be a block party or a town festival or something in between.

In Oak Harbor, this year’s National Night Out had a party feel. For the first time it was held at Fort Nugent Park, and so many people showed up that the parking lot was filled and cars lined the street.

The police chief estimates between 500 to 1,000 people were on hand at any one time. The turnout was so good, he’s already looking for solutions on how to create more parking for next year’s event.

Visitors could buy a hot dog, look inside a demilitarized combat vehicle and watch the Oak Harbor Fire Department set a demonstration room on fire and then put it out.

Booths were chock-full of community resources.

In the wake of negative stories nationally about law enforcement officers behaving badly, the Night Out was also an opportunity for local police and firefighters to build relationships with the community.

“We have good people who are committed to doing the right thing,” said Ron Lawler, a pastor at Family Bible Church.

Lawler also volunteers as the police department’s chaplain.

“They really care about people,” he said. “I’ve seen them bend over backward to help.”

Officers from departments all around the area — fire, police, Navy security — mingled with visitors.

John Kuchler, who works on base with Navy security, was dressed in a “redman suit,” protective head-to-foot padding usually used for training.

The department put on a demonstration that showed self-defense techniques. Tuesday night, the only hits Kuchler seemed to be taking were from small children, including a teensy girl in a pink shirt, who pummeled him enthusiastically with a foam-covered baton.

“She really wanted to do that,” said her grandfather, Jack Loper.

Kuchler and his coworkers took it all in stride.

With a grin, Kuchler yelled to one reluctant little boy, “I took your cookies!” and “I gave you summer homework!”

Oak Harbor police officers fingerprinted children, took their photos and recorded information about their appearance as part of an identification program. Parents left with a printout and local police keep a record on file.

“It gives parents something in case their child ever goes missing,” said officer Michael Brown.

It was one of the most popular booths at the event, with families lined up all night long.

Diane Carr of Oak Harbor brought three of her grandchildren to the event. She took them to see the fire engines and meet Smokey the Bear. Partly, the Night Out was a nice diversion for the kids.

But she had them fingerprinted too, just in case.

“You have so much going on anymore,” she said. “Nothing is sacred.”