Fish with a Cop 2010

By Senior Patrol Officer Landon Ison

On May 7th, 2010, the Lamar Police Department held its annual Fish With a Cop Day at Wheeler Park. Each year the Lamar Police Department, along with the Missouri Department of Conservation, takes the Lamar 6th grade class fishing. The Conservation Department stocks the pond with catfish and bluegill each year prior to this event. This year Members from the Barton County Ambulance Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol were on hand to assist with Fish With a Cop Day.

The classes are divided into two groups; one group fishing in the morning and the other in the afternoon. With approximately fifty kids in each group, they kept the adults busy! Officers assist the kids with untangling line, taking off fish, and baiting hooks. Each year there are a few who have never fished before. They are taught the fundamentals of fishing, so when they leave they are able to fish on their own.

The weather was great. Just as the first group arrived the clouds rolled in and the wind picked up to about 20mph out of the north making it rather chilly. But the kids warmed up quickly when the fish started to bite. This year several of the biggest fish to date were caught. Several of the kids caught good size fish cast after cast.

Some special guests showed up to help this year. Ed Belcher brought his fly fishing gear to teach fly fishing to any kid who wanted to learn. Judd Chesnut and son Jared showed the kids how to tie flies for trout and bluegill fishing. We were fortunate to have these volunteers at the event to show the kids other aspects of fishing.

The kids are fed lunch cooked by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Everyone who attended was served deep fried catfish and potatos. Before each group left for the day a drawing was held for a new fishing rod and reel donated by Walmart. Winners were Autumn Moffett and Danica Bass. Also this year hats and lures donated by Rogers Fishing and Hunting were given away. Thank you to all sponsors, helpers and donors. Walmart donates the worms for this event each year and Summer Fresh donated the pop and the ketchup for lunch. This year, due to budget cuts in the Conservation Department, all the food was not provided. We were fortunate to have the Lamar Masonic Lodge step up and donate money for food and supplies to feed approximately 150 lunch.

With this program the department is trying to develop a continuing relationship between the students and the police officers. We are with them during the 5th grade with the D.A.R.E program and then again in the 7th grade with the G.R.E.A.T program. This event keeps us in contact with the student body and promotes a good healthy relationship between us.