 |
Their participation in parades and other
community events, as well as their presence in our neighborhoods, make
them invaluable is boosting positive relations with the community,
especially with the children. Recognizing those benefits, two Officers formed the Key West Police Department’s first Mounted Patrol Unit in 1999.
Since then you have seen the Mounted Officers and their horses regularly in parades, giving rides at children’s events, passing out toys from a horse-drawn wagon at Christmas time, and semi-regularly on patrol.
For several years Officers in the Mounted Unit participated on a
part-time basis, as their equestrian duties were secondary to their primary assignments in the Department. “A police officer on a horse is looked upon quite differently than those in patrol cars. I have never had anyone come up to me to pet my
police car”, said Lt. Alan Newby, (retired). In 2011,
recognizing their invaluable benefit and responding to the public's
request to see the horses on duty more often, Chief Donald Lee Jr.
assigned the Mounted Officers full-time to the Mounted Patrol, making
that their primary assignment. This made the equestrian unit even
that much more visible on the streets of Key West; a welcomed sight to
the residents and visitors.
The Mounted Unit is funded primarily through
tax-deductible contributions from individuals, businesses and
organizations. To learn more about how you can get involved or to
help support the unit through financial contributions, donated time,
services or equipment, click on "We Need
Your Help".
This web site was
designed
and hosted by
SunCorp
Data Solutions, LLC
and are not
official pages of the City of Key West, FL or its Police Department
 |
 |
