Oviedo police, deputies fish with children at Long Lake Park
Chief Dale Coleman joined Oviedo officers and Seminole deputies at Long Lake Park, where more than 40 children fished for free and met police outside calls for service.
Chief Dale Coleman and Seminole County deputies spent the morning on the bank of Long Lake Park with children who wanted to learn how to fish, turning one of Oviedo’s favorite fishing spots into a low-pressure public-safety encounter. The free, catch-and-release Fishing with a Cop event paired Oviedo police officers with Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputies and local kids before summer, when park activity and police contact often become more visible in neighborhoods.
The City of Oviedo describes Fishing with a Cop as a way for children and families to meet local officers through fishing, one of Florida’s most popular recreational activities. That fits a department that describes itself as community oriented and says outreach and interaction with citizens are part of its mission. Coleman, who started his career with the Oviedo Police Department in 1986, said the annual event kicks off spring break for local kids and gives them a healthy outlet while helping them get to know officers in a friendly environment.
More than 40 children were registered for the event, according to a city press release, and the morning had a festival feel with live music, stilt walkers, face painting, a photo booth and jugglers. Children brought their own fishing gear, and those who needed equipment could borrow donated poles from Mud Hole, Carl Black Orlando and Bitter’s Bait and Tackle. Police also handed out prizes to children who caught fish, adding to the family-friendly tone at the lake.
The city says families who want to take part in future Fishing with a Cop outings should submit an interest form, because fishing poles and tackle are limited and participants are encouraged to bring their own gear. For parents, the value is practical and immediate: in Oviedo, the department is giving children a free, open setting to meet officers before a crisis, building familiarity and trust in a place where the first conversation is about fishing, not enforcement.
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