GRAFTON, Mass. - Communities around the state joined with thousands of others nationwide for the National Night Out crime and drug prevention event Tuesday.

This was its first year back after a two year hiatus during the pandemic.

In Grafton, the police department held their block party where residents could meet with officers. The event featured family fun activities, food, and education on personal safety, mental health and emergency preparedness.

Residents could also talk with police and other town leaders about problems or concerns in their neighborhoods.

"We try to get information out, we try and meet the people, we try to meet the public, tell them what we do, tell them why we're here” said Grafton Police Chief Normand Crepeau Jr. “It's a non-confrontational experience where, especially for the police, we meet the people. We're not giving them tickets, we're not investigating accidents we're not meeting them at their worst. We're meeting them at their best when they're coming out here to see us, to talk to us about their needs, and if nothing else, just to say hello.”

State and federal law enforcement agencies also participated in Grafton.

More than 16,000 communities from all 50 states and U.S. territories participated in National Night Out.