‘Cops and Bobbers’: Provo police officers take elementary school students fishing
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- Police officers help elementary school students with their fishing poles at Vivian Park Pond in Provo on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
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- A police officer helps fifth grader Marcelo Gonzalez reel with his catch at Vivian Park Pond on May 3, 2023.
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- A Provo police officer helps an elementary school student with their fishing pole at Vivian Park Pond in Provo on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
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- Police officers help elementary school students with their fishing poles at Vivian Park Pond in Provo on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
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- A parent oversees elementary school students as they fish at Vivian Park Pond in Provo on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
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- Provo police officers, police interns and elementary school students in costume stand in front of a “Cops and Bobbers” banner for a group photo at Vivian Park Pond in Provo on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
For one day, 30 elementary students from Provo schools went beyond the classroom for community bonding and time in nature. Provo police officers joined the students Wednesday for the second annual “Cops and Bobbers” fishing trip at Vivian Park Pond in Provo Canyon.
The third, fourth and fifth graders were paired with officers who showed them how to put bait a hook, gut and clean a fish and, in some cases, cook their catches on the grill.
“I like to fish with my family, mostly my brothers. I’ve been fishing for my whole life, as long as I can remember,” fifth grader William Wilcox said. Wilcox caught five fish on the day, but his highlight was spending time with officers who came loaded with fish-themed puns and jokes to amuse the kids.
Up and down the shore people heard everything from, “Why don’t fish play basketball? Because they’re afraid of nets!” to “Why are fish so smart? Because they swim in schools!” with students erupting in laughter.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources filled the pond with 2,200 rainbow trout and tagged 50 of the fish, to make the sport more exciting for the kids. There were prizes for the smallest and biggest fishes caught, a line casting competition, prizes for catching a tagged fish and a costume contest where students dressed up like Provo police officers.
Wilcox went home with a new fishing rod, tackle box and hooks while wearing his homemade PCPD vest.
Marcelo Gonzalez, another fifth grader, showed off the tagged fish he brought home. His favorite part of the day was about the moment “when you cast and get a little nudge, and then you start reeling it. And then it’s like a competition between you and the fish! And then you just reel, reel, until you get the fish.”
Beyond getting a night of fresh air, the Provo Police Department hopes events like Wednesdays help build trust between people and officers.
“After so much indoor isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been really good for the kids and officers alike to get outside and just have fun fishing together,” Provo Police Chief Troy Beebe said. “There’s a lot of wellness going on here today.”
Officer Jason Barker, who organized the event, was inspired by a similar event he’d seen police officers host on the east coast. After seeing their success, he decided to bring it to Provo.
Student sign ups for the event were first-come, first-serve with space for two boys and two girls from each elementary school in the district, and the city’s charter schools. Originally planned for the end of April, the fishing trip was rescheduled due to ice on the lake. Two more days of fishing will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday.
