GO - 13001 - Mounted - Patrol

SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS GO 130.01 Page 1 of 2 130.01 MOUNTED PATROL 06-05-17 PURPOSE The purpose of this order is to establish procedures for the selection, maintenance , and use of mounted horse patrols and the operation of the Police Department’s Mounted Unit stable. POLICY It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to safely and effectively use horse - mounted officers for daily patrol, special events, crowd control , and community outreach purposes. PROCEDURE A. UNIT CRITERIA 1. Horses selected for purchase by the Department or privately -owned horses used by the Mounted Unit shall a. Be either geldings or mares. b. Weigh at least 1,000 lbs. and stand at a minimum of 14 hands. c. Pass sensory testing and be determined suitable for patrol purposes by the Department’s designated trainer. d. Be examined for soundness and general health by an equine veterinarian. e. Be examined by the Mounted Unit’s farrier. f. Be ridden in the Pe ace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Mounted Patrol Officer’s Training Course. 2. Officers assigned to the Mounted Unit or participating in Mounted Unit activities as an ancillary assignment shall a. Own or have access to a horse that meets the criteria ou tlined in Section A.1. b. Have successfully completed the POST Mounted Patrol Officer’s Training Course within one (1) year of being selected for the unit. c. Participate in regularly scheduled Mounted Unit training. 3. The Sergeant assigned to the Mounted Unit shall be responsible for ensuring that the Mounted Unit complies with the Mounted Unit criteria as outlined in Sections A.1 and A.2 of this order. B. STABLE OPERATIONS Officers assigned to the Mounted Unit are responsible for the daily operation of the Department’s stable, including , but not limited to 1. Feeding horses housed at the stable. 2. Cleaning stalls, ready pens, turn -out areas , and the arena. 3. Keeping the stable, tack room, office/locker rooms , and arena in clean and presentable condition. 4. Medicating horses as needed. 5. Grooming their mount s and keeping tack in operable, clean , and presentable condition. 6. Safe loading and operation of trucks and horse trailers. C. DEPLOYMENT 1. Use of the Mounted Unit shall be at the direction of the Chief of Police or designe e. 2. During field operations, officers assigned to the Mounted Unit shall refrain from running their mounts on paved surfaces at a full canter unless exigent conditions exist. 3. Officers shall notify the Mounted Unit sergeant or, in the sergeant’s absence, the on -duty watch commander of: a. Any property damage that occurred as a result of Mounted Unit operations. SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS GO 130.01 Page 2 of 2 b. Any injury to their mount. c. Any intentional contact between their mount and a citizen as a result of crowd control operations or an arrest or detention situation.