Mounted Policing
Mounted Patrol units are extremely valuable to the communities in which they serve.
Here are some of the ways a Mounted Patrol Unit can benefit the community:
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Equine Deputies are extremely useful in Search and Rescue scenarios! Horses can get places that UTV’s and foot patrol cannot access as easily.
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The height advantage from the horse is great as a crime deterrent. You see us, and we see you!
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Mounted Units are great for situations that may need crowd control, or vehicle evacuations from a crowd.
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Horses are great barrier breakers! Some people may be uneasy approaching Law Enforcement Officers, but when there is a horse to pet it makes the approach much easier!
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Training
Horses are “flight” animals by nature. Their natural instinct it to run away from anything they perceive as a threat! It takes extensive training to override the horses natural hard-wired response. We use desensitizing training to get our horses accustomed to some of the “scary” things they might encounter. This training is similar to the desensitizing training you would introduce to any horse, but we tend to use bigger and louder stimuli!
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What to do if you encounter a Mounted Patrol Unit in person:
Equine Deputies do undergo specific training, but it is important to understand that they are still horses. These Deputies are still hardwired the same way that all other horses are. Safety plays a huge part in approaching ANY horse you see in public, so you should always follow these key points:
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Never approach a horse from behind.
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Ask the rider or handler if it is ok for you to touch the animal before you do so.
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Do not stand too close to the horse’s legs.
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Be cautious of “spooky” things you may have in your hands. (Balloons, large toys, food, etc.)
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Avoid making sudden or exaggerated movements or sounds.
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Mounted Patrol Units are a part of our country’s heritage. Police Horses are not viewed as Equipment, but rather as partners to their human counterparts. These horses are treated with respect and care. Most states have specific laws regarding the treatment of Police Horses. In Oklahoma, the relevant statutes are as follows:
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§21-649.1. Striking, tormenting, and other mistreatment of a police dog or horse - Penalties - Restitution.
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A. No person shall willfully strike, torment, administer a nonpoisonous desensitizing substance to, or otherwise mistreat a police dog or police horse owned, or the service of which is employed, by a law enforcement agency of the state or a political subdivision of the state.
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B. No person shall willfully interfere with the lawful performance of any police dog or police horse.
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C. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by the imposition of a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the person shall be ordered to pay restitution, which shall be paid to the law enforcement agency or political subdivision of the state which employed the service of the police dog or horse.
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D. Any person who knowingly and willfully and without lawful cause or justification violates the provisions of this section, during the commission of a misdemeanor or felony, shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by the imposition of a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections not exceeding two (2) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the person shall be ordered to pay restitution, which shall be paid to the law enforcement agency or political subdivision of the state which employed the service of the police dog or horse.
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§21-649.2. Killing, disfiguring, disabling, and other acts committed against a police dog or horse - Penalties - Restitution - Exceptions.
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A. No person shall willfully kill; beat; torture; injure so as to disfigure or disable; administer poison to; set a booby trap device for the purpose of injury so as to disfigure, disable or kill; or pay or agree to pay bounty for purposes of injury so as to disfigure, disable or kill any police dog or police horse owned, or the service of which is employed, by a law enforcement agency of the state or a political subdivision of the state.
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B. Except as provided in subsection C of this section, any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by the imposition of a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the person shall be ordered to pay restitution, which shall be paid to the law enforcement agency or political subdivision of the state which employed the service of the police dog or horse.
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C. Any person who knowingly and willfully and without lawful cause or justification violates the provisions of this section, during the commission of a misdemeanor or felony, shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by the imposition of a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections not exceeding five (5) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the person shall be ordered to pay restitution, which shall be paid to the law enforcement agency or political subdivision of the state which employed the service of the police dog or horse.
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D. The provisions of this section shall not apply: 1. To a peace officer or veterinarian who terminates the life of a police dog or a police horse for the purpose of relieving the dog or horse of undue pain or suffering; or 2. If a police dog is off duty and is running loose without supervision of a police officer and gets run over by a motor vehicle.
