CARLSBAD — Cleo Cordova climbed inside of a Carlsbad police tactical vehicle used by its SWAT team on some of the most dangerous of missions.

But the five-year-old smiled brightly, unafraid of any dangerous criminal or tense situation unfolding.

The vehicle was parked at the Carlsbad Beach area on Saturday, Aug. 9 as part of the annual National Night Out event.

Hundreds of children and their parents visited the beach for the event, which allowed them to get an up-close experience with local law enforcement and first-responders.

Aside from the SWAT vehicle Cordova enjoyed, fire trucks, police cruisers and a helicopter used as an ambulance were on hand, along with officers and staff with Eddy County’s various agencies.

Loving Police Chief Michael Bird said National Night Out brings the

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