ABOUT MOUNTED LAW ENFORCEMENT

Mounted Law Enforcement began in the U.S. in the 1800s. The effectiveness of mounted law enforcement propelled its growth until the invention of the automobile. Although the mounted seemed obsolete, law enforcement agencies quickly concluded that lawman and steed can track, chase and catch a suspect in places where an automobile cannot go.

Continuing through to modern times, mounted units can do things patrolmen in cars often can’t such as jump a curb, turn into a tight alley and even chase down a suspect fleeing on foot through a narrow stretch.

Mounted officers can maneuver in various terrains where other units cannot, such as thickened woods, dirt paths and mountains for search and rescue, to track a suspect or locate evidence.

It’s amazing how many crimes are deterred by a mounted officer who can see and be seen up to a half mile away.

Additionally, these officers on horseback are a force multiplier in managing large crowds: One mounted officer equals 15 to 20 officers on foot. Two mounted officers equal 30-40 patrolmen and so on.

Mounted units are active in 39 states with over 150 mounted units nationwide. These units are operating within city and state police departments, sheriffs' departments, highway patrol, border patrol, U.S. parks and capitol parks. Lawman and steed are specialized partners who keep the streets safe with modern-day policing.

Most people are unaware of the full significance and dire need of a mounted unit. Law enforcement on horseback are vitally important to public safety while promoting positive interaction with the horse in the community.

THE 3 C’s OF MOUNTED: Fact Sheet on Mounted Units

CRIME:

Mounted officers are officers on horseback. A mounted unit is dispatched to calls on four hooves instead of on four wheels.

Horses are used as “patrol vehicles” deployed to various terrains including urban (downtown, business districts, entertainment districts, backstreets, in alleyways, high crime areas), rural (farmlands, orange groves, wheat fields, woods, backwoods), mountains, desert, beaches, lakes, parks (running/hiking/bike trails, wildlife preserve), thickened forests and rolling hills.

Mounted officers have greater height, speed and inertial mass over an opponent on foot and have a psychological impact. You can’t outrun a horse.

Horses’ eyes and ears are better than humans in terms of air sensing and their reaction to dead bodies.

The horse walks at a speed of 3 to 5 mph that allows for real observation by the officer. Due to the height of the horse and officer, both are visible to the public and the law enforcement presence is magnified.

The law enforcement rider and their equine partner are both considered officers. If you assault a mounted horse, you assaulted an officer in most units.

CROWD CONTROL (This could be a crowd of 5 to 200,000 people):

Mounted officers and horses become a force multiplier on the front lines in a crowd control situation or as back-up to patrolmen on the street wrangling the crowds or during an arrest.

Mounted safeguards each side of a protest and keeps the public safe at big events

People are moved in a safe manner due to the size of the mounted partners.

There is visibility of mounted offices over the crowd because they are sitting 10 feet off the ground. Likewise, the crowd can easily see mounted officers in case they need help.

Mounted officers and their horses stop crime by actually deterring crime.

COMMUNITY:

A mounted officer and horse are a bridge between public and law enforcement, a great community relations tool performing police functions.

A mounted horse is a conversation piece and most people want to approach the horse. You can pet a horse. You can’t pet a patrol car, motorcycle, K-9 or bike.

Mounted officers talk to kids and adults in neighborhoods to start and produce trust in order for the community to assist the mounted in keeping the neighborhood safe.

Mounted law enforcement are approachable. A person may not approach a patrol car, especially if it's moving; however, a person or lost child can easily approach a horse.

Mounted can re-establish a good relationship between citizens and law enforcement through an interest in the horse.

Mounted officers are able to teach citizens how a law officer and horse protects and serves the community.

Mounted officers enjoy giving demonstrations at schools, hospitals, boy and girl scout meetings, neighborhood events and other functions to educate the younger generation on law enforcement.