(Cleveland) - Police officers got together with neighborhood children at Voinovich Park for a day of fun at the pier, and on a chartered fishing boat.
The kids were excited and seemed to be having a really good time. Parents were enjoying the event as well, and praised the event for bringing cops and kids closer together.
Police Officer Cory Benz was among the many cops taking part, and says he always makes it a point to attend.
The annual event is organized by the Cleveland Police Foundation, and was started six years ago by then Police Chief Michael McGrath.
At first, they say funding was scarce, and in order to continue the fishing program a couple of board members personally donated funds to sponsor it.
With the help of the Cleveland Police Foundation funding was received from an Ohio Department of Natural Resource grant, and the program grew to include each of the five neighborhood police districts.
Organizers say the objective was simple: to get kids from neighborhoods together with the officers that work in those neighborhoods so they can get to know one another.
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(Photos by Ken Robinson/WTAM)
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