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Kids enjoy watching a bomb sqaud robot walk around Tibble Fork Reservoir on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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A Utah County Sheriff's Office deputy and Utah Department of Natural Resources employee interact during a meet and greet Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at Tibble Fork Reservoir.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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A Utah County firefighter sprays a hose Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at Tibble Fork Reservoir.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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A bomb squad robot is pictured Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at Tibble Fork Reservoir.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Utah County Sheriff's Office vehicles are seen during a meet and greet event at Tibble Fork Reservoir on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025.

Courtesy Utah County Sheriff's Office

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Come for the the kayaking, stay for the free cookies and robots.

That was the mission of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office on Monday afternoon as its various departments and vehicles set up shop near the beaches at Tibble Fork Reservoir for a meet and greet.

The event was in recognition of the National Night Out Against Crime, a community outreach effort put on by police across the country.

“We’re people too, so you can come up and talk to us, you can approach us and have a conversation with us,” UCSO spokesperson Sgt. Raymond Ormond said. “You can see the stuff and the resources that we have available to help out for those times in need.”

In attendance was Utah County Metro Swat, Utah County Motors, Utah County Search and Rescue, Utah County K-9 and Utah County Fire, a bomb squad team, along with the Utah Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service.

The bomb squad’s explosive ordnance disposal robot was a particular hit as it walked around the parking lot on four legs.

Sgt. Quin Fackrell said the walking bomb-detecting robot, developed by Boston Dynamics, is the only one in the state of Utah.

“When the situation’s a little dangerous, we will send that instead of a human, because I can replace that. I can’t replace a human,” Fackrell said.

The robot has sensors to detect if a device is lethal or if there is a chemical in the air, and it has night vision and thermal capability, he said.

It’s one of several pieces of technology used by a department that stays busy. According to Fackrell, the bomb squad has already responded to 65-70 calls this year in its response area, which extends beyond the county, and has recovered an explosive in 80% of those trips.

“We’ve responded to fireworks because people may or may not believe fireworks are deadly, but they kill people every year,” Fackrell said. “And we’ve responded to military ordnance as well already this year, multiple occasions of that.”

Elsewhere at Tibble Fork, the county’s wildland fire department showcased one its large engines and fire hoses.

Fire Chief Patrick Carlson said many people have told him they didn’t know Utah County had a fire department, and he spoke about the several different roles his department has.

“We have in-county that just takes care of Utah County and the surrounding areas, then we have an out-of-county program that goes out all around the nation putting out wildfire,” he said.

The fire department also assists local departments with risk incidents.

Carlson said his team and engines have gone all over the western United States this summer to fight fires, and he emphasized that wildfires require assistance from multiple agencies.

“I don’t think one department can do it in Utah. We need everybody in it,” Carlson said. “Wildfires are a lot different than structural fires. If (the mountain) starts on fire, we need everybody from the federal government to our state cooperators, our local cooperators as well as Utah County.”