For one summer day in Greenport’s Mitchell Park, local children get an up-close, hands-on introduction to police work — climbing aboard patrol vehicles, sounding the sirens, meeting K-9 teams and watching police drones take to the sky.

The annual Paul Drum Life Experience Project Southold Police Kid’s Funfest, founded by Sharon Sailor and named after her son, Paul, is designed to introduce children to local law enforcement in a setting built around curiosity, interaction and fun.

Kids get to sit in and on police vehicles, try the lights and sirens, watch K-9 demonstrations and see police drones take to the sky — all while getting to know the officers behind the badges.

“It started as a ‘How to be a Detective’ class for kids, and then it blossomed into this,” said Sailor, co-owner of Front St. Station. “It’s just great community interaction. It’s great learning. Period.”

Sailor said the fun part is that the day is deliberately hands-on.

“It’s a touch event,” she said. “With little kids, it’s always ‘don’t touch, don’t touch.’ This is touch. Ask, get on, play, have a great time, you know, and interact.”

The kids also got to see K-9 demonstrations with police dogs and at this week’s event got to witness a mock hostage situation in which Paul was “taken hostage.”

And beneath all the lights, sirens, dogs and drones is a more serious purpose: building familiarity and trust that might matter long after the day is over.

“Someday down the road, who knows if a child has a problem, an issue at home, an issue at school, they feel familiar with a police officer they can go to as a friend,” Sailor said, “and as someone to feel safe and keep our community safe.”

For Sailor, that’s what the day is all about.

“I think the kids love it. The police love it. We love it.”