Cops and Bobbers Fishing Event

Photography by Juan Walker

On a sunny Saturday to start the month of June, officers and civilian employees hosted the department’s first ever Cops & Bobbers event right here in Camden at the Cramer Hill Waterfront Park fishing pond.
It was an event several years in the making that was able to finally come together thanks to the redevelopment of the Harrison Avenue site where the city now has its first ever dedicated fishing pond.

Organized by the Community Outreach Unit, the event provided a unique opportunity for families and especially for children to try fishing, many for the very first time in their lives. The department provided rods, tackle and bait and some expert help on how to cast, bait hooks and reel in a fish from Sergeant Daniel Fiori and Public Information Officer Mike Daniels, both experienced anglers, along with Community Outreach officers.
While there were more than enough knots to untangle for one day, there were also a lot of smiles and plenty of kids who caught their first ever fish – which included white perch and sunfish. One rookie angler even caught a turtle and another hooked up with a large catfish but unfortunately it snapped off before it could be landed.

Sergeant Fiori’s Baits Unleashed foundation made a generous donation of 20 rod-and-reel combinations and 30 stocked tackle boxes along with plenty of bait to make sure our novice anglers had everything they needed for the day. And because it was such a success, the department is planning to host another such event come September.

Written by Michael Daniels