Today, El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal joined Norris-Penrose Event Center General Manager Kyle Park to announce the strategic, long-term partnership between their Offices.
“Kyle and I are excited to announce the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit will now operate full-time, out of the Norris-Penrose equestrian facilities,” said Sheriff Roybal. “This partnership allows my Mounted Unit team increased access to our equine partners for ceremonies, patrol, search and rescue, and all their various functions.”
“We are pleased to partner with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office,” said Norris-Penrose General Manager Kyle Park. “This partnership will yield streamlined coordination between our entities on the events and training hosted year-round at our facilities and adds a consistent law enforcement presence on our property.
“We are thankful for the shared collaboration and excited to further expand our Western heritage on the Front Range of Colorado. Norris Penrose is committed to being an asset of this community and this partnership is just another way that we can help support our citizens and enhance our community."
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit comprises 12 deputies and five equine partners and is the only standing unit in the Pikes Peak region. A native of Colorado Springs, Sheriff Roybal is committed to preserving the Western heritage unique to our community.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit provides administrative formations, search and rescue, evidence and fugitive searches, Honor Guard presentations, patrol, crowd control, arrest, pursuits, traffic stops, vehicle escorts, and a multitude of other services to the citizens of El Paso County.
“As the Sheriff, I am focused on addressing crimes and reducing victims in our community,” said Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “The proximity of the Norris-Penrose equestrian facilities allows my deputies to train and expand their reach, from Green Mountain Falls to Palmer Lake, to the eastern and southern rural edges of the county. Additionally, our Office has quickly become the regional hub for training and has hosted two Mounted Unit academies in the past year, with another scheduled for Fall 2024. This partnership allows for additional training opportunities for law enforcement agencies across the nation. I am grateful for our parentship and look forward to seeing the benefits of this incredible opportunity.”
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. It was designed to support any component of the Sheriff’s Office, primarily in rural areas where traditional patrol techniques are combined with the abilities and advantages of an equine partner.
