The Horse-mounted unit was established in 1934, and is one of America's oldest police equestrian organization in the United States. |
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Horse
mounted patrols are assigned to Federal Parks in Washington, D.C.,
New York City, and San Francisco. These nationally
acclaimed officers and mounts are highly respected for crowd management
techniques. They also function to maintain order during major demonstrations
and special events and have been transported to other sites in the National
Park system to control demonstrations. The first use of horses by the
United States Park Police followed the general trial and error
method that prevailed throughout much of police work in those days.
Rock Creek
Park, a 1900-acre tract of heavily wooded terrain lying in the
heart of Washington, D.C. is interspersed with equestrian trails
that required
special policing methods for which the horse is ideally suited.
Large park areas with open spaces, picnic areas, ball fields and
other activities
were soon found to be places where horses could patrol more effectively
than foot officers or motorized vehicles. Because of this, stables
were erected and new horse-mounted boundaries were established. |
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The
United States Park Police Horse Mounted
Unit is one of the oldest established police equestrian units in the
United States. Established in 1934 with one horse that was rented from
a local stable. However, as the value of the mounted unit was proven,
it was expanded to an operational strength that patrols and provides
protection in the Washington Metropolitan Area as well as New York
and San Francisco. |
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The
first use of horses by the Park Police followed the general trail and
error method that prevailed throughout much of police work in those
days. Rock Creek Park, a 1900-acre tract of heavily wooded terrain
lying in the heart of Washington, D.C. is interspersed with equestrian
trails that required special policing methods for which the horse is
ideally suited. Open park areas with open spaces, picnic areas, ball
fields and other activities were soon found to be places where horses
could patrol more effectively than foot officers or motorized vehicles.
Because of this, stables were erected and new horse mounted beats were
established. |
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The Nation's
Capitol hosts many civic functions each year. Some of them are annual
events and some have a national and international character, such as
the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Christmas Pageant of Peace
and the Presidential Inauguration. During the 1960's and the 1970's,
the horses, in addition to being an attractive unit for display in parades,
were found to be highly effective in crowd and traffic management at
these functions. The horses were properly trained and conditioned to
maneuver in crowds of people and through heavily traveled roadways so
they would not endanger the public, themselves, or other riders. |
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By
being actively engaged in virtually all major demonstrations in the
Washington Metropolitan
Area, the U. S. Park Police Horse Mounted Unit has gained valuable
knowledge and expertise in managing crowds and quelling disturbances
with little or no serious injuries to the demonstrators, spectators,
horse or rider. |
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The Unit's reputation and expertise
lead to a special invitation to provide 25 Horse Mounted Officers to
patrol Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sadly, it took a tragedy to show what the unit could do in a very demanding
situation. |
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The
Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt at the 1996
Olympic Games said " The officers clearly proved to be the most
effective public relations unit and the most favorable method of crowd
control at the Olympic games". The Unit also travels to Camp David
at the request of the U. S. Secret Service and provides horses for
the President and the first family. |
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The unit continues to train for
Civil Disturbances and was instrumental in handling the large crowds
during the 2000- Millennium Celebration the World Bank International
Monetary Funds demonstration any many others. |
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The U. S. Park Police
Horse Mounted Training Staff receives numerous requests from outside
agencies to provide them with training. This agency has assisted the
U. S. Army, U. S. Secret Service as well as police departments from Maryland,
New York, West Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Colorado, New Mexico
and many others. Instructors are regularly requested to provide training
at police seminars as mounted colloquiums held throughout the United
States. The United States Park Police Horse Mounted Unit offer the
400-hour Remount training "Free of charge" to
outside Law Enforcement agencies. |
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| Any questions about the Horse Mounted Unit or requests for training may be directed to Sergeant Robert Hartnett, Edgewater Stables (202) 426-6853. | |||||
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