Mary Pieper

Parents and children mingled with local law enforcement officers during National Night Out in Mason City on Tuesday.

James Gomez, 5, who wants to be a police officer when he grows up, was fascinated by the Mason City Police Department's SWAT tactical vehicle.

He said his favorite part about coming to National Night Out, an annual event designed to improve relations between police and the public, was "a police officer with the big hammer trying to break into the door" to demonstrate how resistant the SWAT vehicle is against attacks.

"He has his career path figured out," said James' mother, Autunm Lauritsen.

Lauritsen said her family came to National Night Out "to see what is going on with the community resources and so he (James) could see the police officer stuff."

Those

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