Five new police academy graduates were recently welcomed to the Key West Police Department. Now there's one more: Bambi, the horse.
"The Key West Police Department's Cavalry Unit is up and galloping," said Officer Eric Biskup, who proposed and promoted it. Biskup bought, trained and rides the 3-1/2 year old Appalossa. In late September they completed a four-day mounted police training course conducted by the southern Police Institute and Geiser Equine Education Seminars at a rodeo arena in Labelle.
Biskup said he and Bambi learned and practiced skills including formations for crowd control, sensory and obstacle training of horses, VIP security, defensive tactics, arrest procedures, and search and rescue.
Steele, the other police horse, ridden by Officer Kenn Stinson, will receive the special training from Monroe County Sheriff Lt. Tammy Clark, who is about to become a certified mounted training instructor through the same school.
Bambi has already been out in the community at several public events, Biskup said, and has behaved quite reliably. He calls it on the job training: "people get used to the horses and the horses get used to the people." In the Customs House Art Car Parade, she and Biskup were placed behind an antique fire engine that backfired periodically during the procession. Bambi was unfazed, Biskup said.
She was fondled all afternoon by kids at the Navy's National Night Out event in August and at the city's Labor Day Picnic in the park. No problem.
At the picnic, the mounted officers presented Chief Buz Dillon with the "Golden Shovel Award" for his support of the unit, Biskup said. And individuals and community businesses have donated money to help with expenses for feed, the purchase of a two-horse trailer, tack and other expenses. Biskup picked up the costs for the school.
Bambi and Steele will be stabled soon for free in an area under the Sheriff's Office administration building on Stock Island.