Last week, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office hosted a Regional Mounted Unit School, at Latigo Trails Equestrian Center in El Paso County, Colorado. During the weeklong training program, thirteen participants worked to improve their horsemanship skills, learn new techniques, and develop and practice plans for emergency situations.
Participants trained on several topics including emergency dismounting, administrative formations, search and rescue, evidence and fugitive searches, Honor Guard presentations, patrol, arrest, pursuits, traffic stops, horse relaxation theory and groundwork.
Law Enforcement partners from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, and the Denver Police Department, trained alongside Members of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
“Our Mounted Unit provides unique, multi-purpose functions, “said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal, “increasing safety at events and during specialized law enforcement operations and helping to build strong community- relationships. As Colorado’s largest Sheriff’s Office, we continuously look for ways to embrace our western heritage while serving citizens in the Pikes Peak region. The Mounted Unit is a large part of this effort, and we are grateful to have it as a part of our agency. Special thanks to Latigo Trails Equestrian Center, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Denver Police Department for their participation. We are grateful for their strong partnerships.”
“Throughout our rich history, JCSO has benefited from the versatility that the Mounted Patrol Unit brings to our agency. People are naturally drawn to the animal and its rider, which creates a bridge of connection to our community at special events and parades. As we continue to train and grow this unit, we intend to collaborate with our partners in search and rescue to incorporate this valuable tool. We appreciate the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the Latigo Trails Equestrian Center for hosting and providing this valuable training,” said Jefferson County Sheriff Reggie Marinelli.
“The Denver Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit provides a critical service to the residents of Denver. To operate safely and efficiently within crowds and urban settings, it is imperative that they train for difficult situations and unplanned circumstances,” said Denver Chief of Police Ron Thomas. “This week’s training gave them the opportunity to enhance their skills and those of their equine partners to prepare for whatever challenges they may face. I am grateful to Sheriff Roybal and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for hosting this vital training and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
History of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit
Although El Paso County Sheriff’s Office deputies have utilized equine partners in our operations since our inception in 1861, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit was formally designated in 1996 and was designed to support any component of the Sheriff’s Office, primarily in rural areas where normal patrol techniques are combined with the abilities and advantages of an equine partner.
With Sheriff Roybal’s continued efforts to expand the Unit, the Mounted Unit’s rich history will continue and thrive in El Paso County.
Routinely patrolling unincorporated El Paso County, an equine handler can see better from atop a horse and cover terrain where a patrol car cannot go. Trained, desensitized horses are a tremendous law enforcement tool in many settings such as homeless outreach, fugitive and evidence searches, crowd control, and search and rescue operations.
The presence of deputies with their equine partners is widely appreciated and often applauded by the public. They frequently participate in and provide security and assistance during a variety of annual community events such as the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, the El Paso County Fair and the Air Force Academy Graduation. Additionally, the presence of the Mounted Unit brings a special level of decorum to special events such as the annual Pikes Peak Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony.
