First responders get mental health boost on Lake Michigan with inaugural fishing tournament

CHICAGO – First responders went out for a day of fishing on Lake Michigan Tuesday, with a lot more than catching fish on their minds.

Just before 6 a.m. Tuesday, the inaugural First Responder Mental Health Wellness Angling Tournament kicked off. First, a moment of silence was held, followed by a prayer for the Chicago police officers and firefighters participating.

Anglers then set sail, with the beautiful Chicago skyline behind them and the waters of Lake Michigan in front. The tournament came with a chance of landing some trophy fish and, just as important, a chance to turn down the noise.

The tournament is the brainchild of CPD Officer and Charter Boat Capt. Ernesto Babilonia.

“The idea is to expose officers who may be experiencing some kind of mental wellness issues and come out and relieve that stress,” Babilonia said.

No one knows and understands that more than Carlos Yanez, who lost his partner Ella French in August of 2021. Yanez was shot five times, including four times in the head. Things like the angling tournament help in so many ways.

“When you’re out there fishing, you kind of forget about the problems back in the city. You’re out on the lake. It’s so peaceful, so calm and then you reel in that fish and get all excited. You really don’t forget, but it does help,” Yanez said.

Also participating was Julian Jimenez, who lost his father Samuel in November of 2018. Samuel was responding to an incident at Mercy Hospital when he was shot and killed.

“It’s quite difficult. It’s hard. The only reason why I’ve been able to push through is because I always thought I could make him proud,” Julian said. “For example, getting good grades in going to school and making him happy up there, and watching over me and that’s what’s keeping me going.”

Other fishing boat captains, amateurs and professionals, like Bela Gina Charter Capt. Rob Civinelli, were only happy to get on board.

“There was no back-and-forth at all. When he asked me, I said, ‘Absolutely,'” Civinelli said.

Back at the dock, it was time for some bragging rights with the biggest fish, but for every police officer and firefighter, the event served as a six-hour period where they were able to stand down and embrace an important tenet of mental health awareness – it’s okay to not be okay.

“We develop relationships. We care for each other. We love each other,” Babilonia said.

To that point, also present was Fallen Officer Krystal Rivera’s partner, only several days after he accidentally fatally shot her while chasing a suspect into a building.

While the tournament was planned months ago, Rivera’s partner was encouraged by his peers to be part of the event as he only begins to sort out his own emotional trauma.

The fishing tournament was underwritten by the Chicago Police Foundation, the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7.