Westchester County Police Mounted Unit Particpates In A Public Demonstration At "Ardsley Day" at Ashford Park 9-16-07 From WestchesterGov.com New Mounted Police Unit to Improve Security Patrols Horses will provide more visibility and access and help with crowd control The ranks of Westchester County police are growing by four – horses that is. A new mounted police unit officially joined the force today as the equines clacked their way in unison along a muddy road at Muscoot Farm – demonstrating a few of the maneuvers that will make the unit a valuable addition to the Department of Public Safety. Being able to muster up officers on horseback will help in the department’s crime prevention efforts and allow for supplemental patrols in many county jurisdictions. County Executive Andy Spano and Police Commissioner Tom Belfiore emphasized the benefits of having a mounted unit and explained how it would be used. “Officers on horseback have a lot of flexibility and in many situations have the edge when it comes to preventing or responding to suspicious activity,” Spano said. “They can easily get to areas that patrol cars can’t reach. Their high vantage point makes them easy to spot, especially in a crowd, and they have a commanding presence that makes for a good crime deterrent. It also goes without saying that they can respond faster than officers on foot.” The unit’s four officers -- Sean Lonergan, Keith McCartney, Angela Caporale and Fabian Yearwood -- and their horses recently completed a four-month training program with Nassau County police, who have had a mounted unit for 29 years. While in Long Island, the horses were acclimated to vehicle traffic, pedestrians and a variety of noises, and learned to get comfortable walking on concrete and alongside other horses. They even got some on-the-job experience patrolling a hockey game, concert and mall before coming back to Westchester last month to begin local assignments. “They’re ready to go,” Belfiore said. “Look for them to be deployed at various events throughout the county in the upcoming months.” Belfiore noted that a mounted unit will round out the various resources available to the department. The county police provide foot and motor patrols of about 16,000 acres of county property as well as four parkways, and there will be many opportunities to use mounted police, especially during the warmer months with their increase in pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic. Police anticipate using the horses in a variety of situations: to patrol county parks and trailways, as well as the airport, jail, medical center or Westchester Community College; do security detail at Playland; help with crowd control at picket lines or protests; or monitor large events such as those at the County Center. The Cortlandt Town Center (which is patrolled by county police) will benefit from a community policing patrol. The horses, named Hudson, Mohawk, Ranger and Zeus, will be housed in a stable at Muscoot Farm and a truck and trailer are being purchased to transport them while on “assignment.” Start-up costs are being offset by a $50,000 state grant. At today’s event, unit members showed off several of the maneuvers and formations they’ve learned that will help with crowd control. The horses walked side by side and performed a formation called a “wedge” that can be used to split a crowd to make way for a police car or other vehicle. They’ve also learned to ride in a “diagonal” which can be helpful in moving a group of people away from an object such as a building. Another maneuver is the “side pass” which involves a single horse stepping sideways. Police officers also gave a formal thank you to their counterparts in Nassau County who provided the special training needed to prepare the unit. Photos By x635