PROVIDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S MOUNTED COMMMAND

The Providence Police Department's Mounted Command was in full operation throughout 1997. In addition to the unit's routine patrol duties, the Mounted Command attended a multitude of ceremonial functions such as parades, groundbreakings, funerals of dignitaries and grand openings. The unit continues to work 8PM to 4 AM on Thursday through Saturday's, also day and out-first shifts on the remaining days of the week. The officers and their mounts have positively impacted the downtown area's night scene, paying particular attention to performances at The Providence Performing Arts Center, Trinity Repertory Theater, Civic and Convention Center activities and closing hour at the various nightclubs and restaurants. Due to the conspicuous visibility of mounted officers, theater patrons and visitors to Providence's downtown area experience a heightened sense of security, and feel comfortable walking about the downcity area during all hours of the day and night. The clip-crop of hoof beats echoing through the city's night air lets everyone know that the mounties are on patrol.

In addition to the downcity area, other mounted patrol posts include Federal Hill, Thayer/Benefit/Wickenden Streets, Richmond & Wayland Squares, and Roger Williams Park. With the resurgence of Broad Street, mounted officers are starting to have their presence felt there, and are a welcome sight to the area's businesses, patrons and residents.

As the principal public relations tool of The Department, The Mounted Command played host to 52 school field trips which visited the stable facility in Roger Williams Park during 1997. During a school visit, the children receive a tour of the facility during which they are introduced to the horses and shown how they are cared for, trained and prepared for their daily work. The children are allowed to pet them and are afforded the opportunity to feed them a carrot. Afterwards an officer puts on a short riding demonstration and answers their questions about horses and mounted police work. The children are also spoken to about the dangers of drugs, and are given a picture of the mounted mascot horse, which depicts a cartoon character of a police horse shaking his head with a caption stating "Say Nay to Drugs". They are encouraged to post the picture on their classroom bulletin boards.

The unit continues to undergo increased amounts of training in horsemanship and police tactical scenarios for both mounts and officers. Providence PD mounted officers have been invited to participate in training in Ottawa with The Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Also, the Mounted

Command continues to train alongside our own K-9 unit in order to use both units conjunctively for crowd control purposes and for public relations activities.

The Mounted Command currently boasts a complement of fourteen officers including Inspector Luis Del Rio who serves as the unit's director. There are currently 14 mounts in the unit. The stable facility, located in Roger Williams Park, is maintained by a civilian staff consisting of five animal handlers, one laborer and Stable Supervisor, Mr. Ed Ponte. These civilian personnel ensure that the mounts are maintained in impeccable condition and that the facility runs like a well-oiled machine in carrying out the police function.

All of the horses in the mounted unit have been acquired through charitable donations. The unit continues to seek donations, both corporate and private, of suitable mounts for patrol duties. As older horses are retired and found suitable homes, fresh re-mounts are continuously being sought to replenish stock. Inquiries regarding donations or school field trips should be directed to Inspector Del Rio at (401 ) 272-3121 ext. 2613.

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