The Cleveland Police Foundation was proud to host two outstanding community events this past month, bringing Cleveland Police Officers and local youth together through fun, memorable experiences that help strengthen trust and build lasting relationships.
Fishing with Cops – July 14
On Tuesday, July 14, the Cleveland Police Foundation hosted its annual Fishing with Cops event at Blue Heron Preserve in conjunction with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. The program brought Cleveland Police officers, the Mounted Unit, Motorcycle Unit, and Apollo the CPD therapy K-9, together with local youth for a relaxing day of fishing, conversation, and mentorship in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Throughout the day, officers and participants shared stories, learned fishing techniques, and built meaningful connections away from the everyday environment. To help encourage continued interest in the outdoors, each participating youth received a fishing rod and reel, and backpack filled with fishing gear to take home.
Events like Fishing with Cops demonstrate the Foundation’s commitment to creating positive interactions between law enforcement and the young people they serve.
West Denison Baseball Day with the Lake Erie Crushers – July 19
On Sunday, July 19, the Cleveland Police Foundation partnered with the Lake Erie Crushers to host players ages 6 to 12 from the West Denison Baseball League for a special day at ForeFront Stadium. The event provided young athletes and their families with an opportunity to connect with Cleveland Police Officers while enjoying an exciting day at the ballpark.
Before the game, Cleveland Police Officers from the Mounted Unit and Motorcycle Unit spent time meeting with players and their families, answering questions, demonstrating their specialized equipment, and providing opportunities for photos and conversation.
Each participating youth received complimentary game tickets, food, and a baseball to collect autographs from the Lake Erie Crushers players following the game. The excitement continued as the players took the field to play catch before the game, formed the rally tunnel to welcome the Crushers players during team introductions, and capped off the evening by running the bases before meeting the Crushers players for an autograph session.
