LIVINGSTON – The University of West Alabama Campus Police Department will host the First Annual Fishing Tournament at the college for children ages 5-12 on Saturday, July 17.

The tournament will take place from 8 a.m. until noon at the campus Duck Pond, spanned by the Covered Bridge and located near the Student Union Building.

Sponsors for the event include the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, the Livingston Department of Public Safety, and of course the Campus Police Department. The fish for the tournament will be donated by Prime Line Catfish.

Free hot dogs will also be supplied, as well as undisclosed “mystery” prizes for the largest fish caught.

The event itself is intended to provide a fun opportunity for local kids to enjoy the benefits of their home town university, as well as to encourage them to get to know their local police officers, create a personal link between the kids and the police and remove some of the fear and distrust that can sometimes exist between the two groups, said Jill Harris, one of the leaders for the event.

“This is our first attempt at a tournament like this, and we hope to continue putting it on in years to come as long as we get the support we need,” Harris said.

The tournament itself is free, and no pre-registration is required, although participants are asked to bring their own equipment if they are able to do so.