Birmingham Police Mounted Patrol
The Birmingham Police Mounted Patrol is a special unit of the Birmingham Police Department that utilizes officers on donated horses on regular patrols and in crowd control and public relations assignments, including representing the department in the inaugural parades for presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
The unit, which is part of the Tactical Division, was created in the mid 1970s when the Five Points West Merchants Association donated Booger Red, who was named for police chief Bill Myers.
The division was supported by Myers' successor, Arthur Deutsch, and peaked at about 20 animals. In 1985 the unit moved from stables at the Alabama State Fairgrounds to a purpose-built stable facility on the UAB Campus. Mounted officers trained UAB Campus Police in handling the animals and using them in crowd control and public relations settings.
The unit dwindled to four animals in 2012 before the opening of the Uptown entertainment district at the BJCC and Regions Field prompted the department to expand again. Under Sergeant John Callahan the unit expanded to 10 horses in early 2013. It is currently staffed by seven officers.
Suitable mounts are preferably geldings, 8 to 10 years old, taller than 15 hands, of breeds suited to hard work, such as quarter horses. After and initial screening the horses are given a 30-day trial which includes exposure to smoke, sirens, gunfire and traffic. About half of the horses donated are accepted into the unit. Initial training consists of 12 weeks, with refresher courses given twice a month.
The horses are usually retired in their mid-20s, Booger Red remained active at the age of 35, retiring in 2002. Non-"streetable" animals, who have lost the temperament for regular patrols, are still used in school programs and other events.
Horses
- Apache, died on-duty from a collision with a pick-up truck in 1998
- Booger Red (born c. 1967), retired 2002
- Beau
- Champion
- Cocoa
- Dusty Dan
- Geronimo (born c. 1990), inactive
- Gina (born c. 1998, inactive
- Hub
- Jack
- Long John
- Major
- Partner
- Pistol, retired after 2006
- Showdown (born c. 1994), active
- Star
- Vector (born c. 1985, active
See also
References
- Reynolds, Ed (May 18, 2006) "Walking Tall: Patrolmen on Horseback bring a visible presence to their beats." Black & White
- Robinson, Carol (February 8, 2012) "Birmingham's mounted police running out of horses." The Birmingham News
- Harris, Sherea (April 2, 2013) "Birmingham police adding more officers on horseback." WBRC/MyFoxAl.com