Wooster Police Department Hosts 5th Annual Badges & Bobbers Event

Freedlander Park Pond buzzed with excitement as local youth and City police officers gathered for the 5th annual Badges & Bobbers event. Designed to foster positive relationships between young community members and local law enforcement, the event offered kids an unforgettable morning of fishing, games, and outdoor fun.

Before the event, the pond was specially stocked with Hybrid Bluegill and Channel Catfish, ensuring plenty of action for young anglers as they cast their lines.

Thanks to generous support from community partners and grant programs, every child who attended left with the equipment and supplies needed for future outdoor adventures. Through a grant from Wooster Elks Lodge #1346, every participant received a brand-new Zebco fishing pole and a custom Badges & Bobbers T-shirt. Grandpaw's Bait & Lures LLC provided free bait, keeping hooks loaded and bobbers dipping throughout the morning.

Forty lucky participants also took home fishing- and camping-themed door prizes made possible through an Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Step Outside Grant awarded to the Wooster Police Department.

The event was truly a community-wide effort, with local businesses stepping up to help make the day a success. Frito-Lay and Bowman Beverage donated complimentary refreshments, while representatives from Walmart joined the festivities with an informational table and outdoor games for the kids to enjoy between casts.

With plenty of fish in the pond and tremendous community support, the 5th annual Badges & Bobbers once again demonstrated how a simple morning at the pond can create meaningful connections between local youth, law enforcement, and the community.