This week I got to spend some time with an officer from the Omaha Police Mounted Patrol. In an age of high speed police chases and cutting edge technology crime-fightning, it was a real experience to speak with a police officer sitting atop a large Morgan horse.The Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Unit began in 1989 as a part-time Unit on a trial basis when two community leaders, then Omaha Mayor P.J. Morgan and area businessman Donovan Ketzler, decided to implement a horse patrol. The Unit started with two Officers, two donated horses, a donated trailer, and all the accompanying donated tack. The original Mounted Patrol Officers assisted with big events such as Septemberfest and River City Roundup along with patrolling the downtown area, responding to disturbances, and playing a crucial role in crowd control situations. The new horse patrol exceeded expectations and was such a success in all areas of law enforcement, special events, and public relations that the Mounted Patrol was made a full-time Unit in 1990.
Mounted Patrol Officers perform all aspects of police work from horseback including traffic and crowd control; they conduct traffic stops, write citations, and make arrests. Horse Patrol Officers are often utilized during searches for missing persons, evidence, and suspects in open fields, wooded areas, and rough terrain.
The Unit has a state-of-the-art equine facility downtown and the patrol operates nearly year 'round, riding the city in even the coldest of temperatures. The powerful well-trained horses are really amazing and it was a pleasure to watch these fantastic animals.
There is a cool video of the horses in training at http://www.ketv.com/news/18882179/detail.html#
