130 Years of Baltimore’s Finest 4-Legged Unit By Stacey Wells


Horses and humans have coexisted for cen-


turies with horses helping humans in many capacities. Before there were tanks and fi ghter planes, there were horses. From ancient Greek chariots to the modern day warlords fi ghting the Taliban in Afghanistan, horses have car- ried men into battle. T e role of horses during peacetime has varied from the show world to the farm fi elds and everything in between. T e police horse and mounted offi cer are a unique part of the horse/human bond that continues today in many cities across the U.S. and around the world. T e Baltimore City Police Mounted Unit is the oldest mounted police force in the U.S. T is year, the Unit celebrates 130 years of con- tinuous service. Currently located in down- town Baltimore City, the Unit is preparing for


enforce the city’s speed limit of six miles per hour for horse-drawn car- riages. Because of these duties, the Unit falls as part of Special Opera- tions under the Traffi c section of the Baltimore City’s Police Department. T e original Unit was spread out


across the city and housed in sev- eral stables. Over time, the Unit was consolidated into one location. Cur- rently, the Unit is housed in a former car dealership that was converted to a stable and police station in 1971.


The Job


One of the Unit’s primary func- tions is to patrol specifi c areas for about 4-5 hours at a time. T e law enforcement duties of mounted pa- trols are basically the same as foot and car patrol units. During times of in- clement weather,


Did you know? · 90% of the offi cers who join the Unit have no riding background · When the Unit moved from T oroughbreds to Draft Horses, they knocked down the walls between the stalls to make them “double wide” · T e horses in the Unit are all barefoot for better traction · “Pax” used to be a foxhunter before coming to the Unit and is now the best horse for new offi cers to learn on · Stalls are cleaned every 1 ½ hours · Horses are given hay every hour · T e average girth size for these police horses is 58” with some as large as 60” · T e unit uses custom bridles made by Ridgley Davis that function as both a bridle and a halter with lead (see the sidebar “Tacking the Police Horse”) · A former police horse, Barney, is retired at Days End Farm in Woodbine where he serves as an ambassador for the Unit and breed


like steamy


summer heat, the Unit adjusts its patrol times as needed. Accord- ing to Sergeant Russ Robar, the Unit’s current sergeant, patrolling Baltimore City also helps build community relations. “T e public knows we are there,” he said, add- ing, “We give a sense of presence and security to the community.” Crowd control is a second part of the job of a mounted unit. For Baltimore City,


this generally


One of the Baltimore City Police Mounted Unit’s primary functions has always been traffi c control.


a move into a brand new facility being built on the B&O Railroad Museum property.


Traditions www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580


T e Baltimore City Police Mounted Unit was commissioned by the City of Baltimore on August 29, 1888, the same year that the city annexed more land to create the current city limits. With the expanded size of the city, the Unit was formed to easily patrol the various ar- eas of the city. T e fi rst head of the Unit was Confederate soldier and Cavalryman Sergeant James Rob- ert Moog. During the Civil War, Sgt. Moog served under General Stonewall Jackson and was wounded during the Battle of Gettysburg. T e cavalry traditions are still represented in the insignias of the Unit, with the current ser- geant wearing gold stripes on his sleeves and all members of the Unit having a gold stripe down their breeches. During those early postbellum years, Sgt. Moog and his new unit expanded their duties from just patrol to traffi c control and helped


means managing crowds in the downtown areas where they work with club owners to close down for the night and clear the streets.


For horse and rider safety, the Unit never sepa- rates when doing crowd control. “Most people typically move out of the way as soon as they hear the footsteps of our horses,” Sgt. Ro- bar stated. “T ey know when we show up, it’s time to go home.” In addition to the patrol and crowd


control functions, the Unit also serves as a public outreach team, performing various demonstrations and appearing at functions such as HorseLand at the Maryland State Fair. T e Unit also hosts “Show and Tell” sessions when school groups can meet the horses, tour the stables, and learn more about the Unit as well as general horse care. T e Show and Tell sessions not only teach children about horses, it helps build a positive re- lationship with the police department. “It creates a chance for a kid who has never had an opportunity to see a live horse and allows them to learn about them and touch them,” Sgt. Robar stated. “If these interactions help even just one kid go on to a career within


the horse industry, then I consider that a job well done.”


The Offi cers T e offi cers within this special unit have an


important role to fi ll as they must be good po- lice offi cers as well as ambassadors of the city. Sgt. Robar explained that mounted unit offi cers must be reachable, approachable and have the ability to talk with and engage the community. T e initial mounted offi cer training lasts 12


weeks, with the fi rst six weeks occurring in a ring learning the basics of riding such as rider balance, control of the horse, etc. T e next six weeks are in the fi eld, training on the streets of Baltimore City. Once training is complete, the Unit tries to keep each rider paired with a specifi c horse, but all riders must be able to ride each horse as assignments may change. T e Unit comprises up to eight offi cers and one sergeant.


Sergeant Russ Robar with Big D


Sgt. Robar joined the unit two and a half years ago. Being a sergeant in the Baltimore continued...


NOVEMBER 2018 | THE EQUIERY | 27


BCPMU archives


Katherine O. Rizzo


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