Friends of the Lexington Mounted Police, Inc.

Friends of the Lexington Mounted Police, Inc.Friends of the Lexington Mounted Police, Inc.Friends of the Lexington Mounted Police, Inc.
  • Home
  • The Mounted Unit
  • Colloquium
  • Sensory Clinic
  • Photos
  • Donate
  • More
    • Home
    • The Mounted Unit
    • Colloquium
    • Sensory Clinic
    • Photos
    • Donate

Friends of the Lexington Mounted Police, Inc.

Friends of the Lexington Mounted Police, Inc.Friends of the Lexington Mounted Police, Inc.Friends of the Lexington Mounted Police, Inc.
  • Home
  • The Mounted Unit
  • Colloquium
  • Sensory Clinic
  • Photos
  • Donate

Lexington Police Mounted Unit

HISTORY
The Lexington Mounted Police Unit began in 1982 with one horse and  rider. The unit rapidly grew in the first year to five officers due to community support and has had as many as ten officers and ten horses assigned. There are currently four officers, a sergeant, and seven horses in the unit.   


The unit initially stabled at the Kentucky Horse Park, but in 1996 moved into its own stables located a 575 West Sixth Street. The complex  includes a 4,800 square foot barn with 12 stalls, an office and roll-call room, a 7,200 square foot indoor training arena, a storage barn for hay and maintenance equipment, and two paddocks and a pasture. 


DUTIES
The unit's main duties include providing high visibility patrols to the  Downtown Entertainment District and other selected areas of Lexington. In addition to having the same responsibilities as other police officers  while on patrol, their duties also include providing demos, barn tours,  and special events.   


Mounted units are very effective for crowd control and management. Officers are positioned at approximately 9 feet while mounted giving them a distinct advantage to see over the assembly. They are able to  identify problems and more efficiently move the crowd than officers on foot are capable of doing. A mounted officer can accomplish what 8-10  officers on foot are able to do. 


TRAINING
Our training program is based on natural horsemanship principles where officers work together with their assigned horse partners to overcome the obstacles they are faced with every day on the street. New officers must successfully complete 10-12 weeks of basic training that includes grooming, first aid, ground work, equitation, formation riding, jumping, and other necessary skills. Regularly scheduled training for all officers and mounts occurs year round. In addition to the unit trainers assisting officers with issues that may develop, officers are also expected to train their horses outside of scheduled lessons. 


HORSE REQUIREMENTS
Horses selected for The Lexington Police Mounted Unit must be at least  16 hands high and weigh approximately 1400 lbs. They must also possess a temperament suitable for the rigors and variety of sensory stimuli that are a part of policing the streets of downtown Lexington.  We are  always looking for another horse to join the unit and they are either purchased or donated. If you are interested in this, please contact Sergeant Byron Creekmore at bcreekmore@lexingtonpolice.ky.gov.


COMPETITIONS
Over the years the Lexington Mounted Police have competed in numerous  competitions ranging all over the United States and Canada.


SPECIAL THANKS TO...
Trainers Helmut Graetz, Karen Winn, Shelby Hume, Stephanie Church, Shawna White, Melissa Brown, Stephanie Keelie, and Cheryl Andrews for the many hours spent over the years to help make the unit one of the top mounted units in the country. To Pat and Linda  Parelli and the Parelli Natural Horsemanship group and Karen Scholl for  the many training hours they have provided to the unit.


To the Kentucky Horse Park for its support and dedication to the National Mounted Police Colloquium held at the Horse Park every year in Lexington, KY.


To the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and Lexington Mayor for their support of the mounted unit. 


The Officers

Bishop

Supervisor Sgt. Creekmore (Not Pictured)

Joined LPD: 2013

Assigned to Mounted Unit: 2022

Assigned mount: N/A


Bishop

Breed: Percheron/Thoroughbred

Born: 2009

Height/weight: 16.3 hands/1615 lbs.

Serving since: 2013

Houston

Ofc. Katherine Sullivan and Remington

Ofc. Katherine Sullivan and Remington

Ofc.
Joined LPD:
Assigned to Mounted Unit:
Assigned mount: Houston


Houston
Breed: Percheron/Thoroughbred
Born: 2013
Height/weight: 17 hands/1665 lbs.
Serving since: 2016



Ofc. Katherine Sullivan and Remington

Ofc. Katherine Sullivan and Remington

Ofc. Katherine Sullivan and Remington

Ofc. Katherine Sullivan
Joined LPD: 2015
Assigned to Mounted Unit: 2019
Assigned mount: Remington


Remington
Breed: Clydesdale
Born: 2014
Height/weight: 16.3 hands/1615 lbs.
Serving since: 2019



Ofc. Ashley Quick and Winchester

Ofc. Ashley Quick and Winchester

Ofc. Ashley Quick and Winchester

Ofc. Ashley Quick
Joined LPD: 2015
Assigned to Mounted Unit: 2020
Assigned mount: Winchester


Winchester
Breed: Clydesdale
Born: 2013
Height/weight: 18.2 hands/1795 lbs.
Serving since: 2019



Ofc. Jonathan Coyle and Aden

Ofc. Ashley Quick and Winchester

Ofc. Ashley Quick and Winchester

Ofc. Jonathan Coyle
Joined LPD: 2015
Assigned to Mounted Unit: 2020
Assigned mount: Aden


Aden
Breed: Percheron/Thoroughbred
Born: 2007
Height/weight: 17.2 hands/1650 lbs.
Serving since: 2011



Copyright © 2021 Friends of the Lexington Mounted Police - All Rights Reserved.


Powered by GoDaddy