“There’s no such thing as a bad day of fishing.”

That is what some Dowagiac Union School students and officers of the Dowagiac Police Department proved June 10. The department hosted its first annual “Fish With A Cop” event at Witco ponds in Dowagiac.

Officers of the Dowagiac Police Department took five students for a morning of fishing at the ponds in Dowagiac. Police partnered with conservation officers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources who gave the children a short presentation on conservation and the role of DNR Officers in Michigan.

After this, the children and officers “wet a line” and caught several fish from blue gill and sunfish to bass while practicing catch and release. The participants and officers had a great morning, spending time with each other fishing and getting to know one another, officers said.

This event was made possible by funding by the Dowagiac Elks Lodge 889. The Elks Lodge purchased all of the fishing equipment used and provided lunch for the youth and officers after a morning of fishing.

The event coincided with the Free Fishing Weekend throughout the State of Michigan June 10 and 11. This was a great opportunity for the children to meet and interact with officers in a positive way. The youth had a great time and so did the officers, officers said.

The department looks forward to hosting the “Fish With A Cop” event again next year. The Dowagiac Police Department would like to thank the Elks Lodge 889, the Dowagiac Union Schools for providing the kids and everyone else who worked to make this a fun and positive event.