Mobile residents got an up-close look at the vehicles and personnel behind the city’s emergency response system Saturday, as the Mobile Fire Rescue Department, the Mobile Police Department and the city’s Department of Public Safety hosted a Touch-a-Truck event at the Whataburger on Schillinger Road.
The community event gave families the chance to walk around and climb into fire engines and police vehicles, ask questions of the firefighters, officers and other personnel on hand, and get a firsthand look at the equipment used across Mobile’s public safety agencies.
Beyond the trucks and squad cars on display, two specialized units within the Mobile Police Department also took part: the Family Intervention Team and the Victim Services Unit. Their presence gave attendees a chance to learn about resources available to residents beyond routine law enforcement response, including support services for families and crime victims.
Touch-a-truck style events have become a popular way for fire and police departments around the country to build relationships with the communities they serve, offering a low-pressure setting for children and adults alike to interact with first responders outside of an emergency situation.
Saturday’s event was held at the Whataburger location on Schillinger Road, a busy commercial corridor in west Mobile.