Community Corner
Horse-Mounted Police Coming to Newport Beach for Special Events
The benefit of police on horseback at large scale gatherings is multi-faceted: police can have a higher vantage points, providing increased visibility, and horses can often patrol areas that are not accessible by patrol cars.
The Newport Beach Police Department announced Saturday it has entered into an agreement with the Orange County Regional Mounted Enforcement Unit (OCRMEU) to provide a horse-mounted police presence at major city events.
The OCRMEU is a cooperative effort between the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Police Departments of Anaheim, Buena Park, Garden Grove, Newport Beach, and Santa Ana.
The benefit of police on horseback at large scale gatherings is multi-faceted: police can have a higher vantage points, providing increased visibility, and horses can often patrol areas that are not accessible by patrol cars.
In addition, mounted police are highly visible, which can be a deterrent to criminals.
In a release, Newport Beach police said that they are planning to deploy police on horseback at the Orange County Marathon, and at the 4th of July celebration on Balboa Island.
Officers, after completing a 40-hour training program, will participate in horse-mounted enforcement as an "ancillary duty," in addition to their primary patrol assignments.
"Each officer on the unit supplies their own horse, saddle, tack, and truck and horse trailer for transportation. The officers pay for all costs associated with maintaining the horses including feed, shoeing, and veterinary costs," according to the release.
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