In the Old West, lawmen formed a posse to capture the bad guys.
In modern-day Stockton, the Police Department is rounding up a posse to support the good guys.
Under Chief Stanley McFadden, the department is looking for horse owners to saddle up for its new Volunteer Mounted Patrol Unit. The goal is to support the force by attending public events, engaging in crime prevention and helping when search-and-rescue efforts are needed.
No police experience is required, but solid horsemanship skills sure wouldn’t hurt. And no, this won’t make you a cop.
“We are seeking non-sworn members of the Stockton community who have a passion for horseback riding and are eager to make a positive impact,” the department said in social media post.
Besides owning a horse, applicants must meet a few other requirements. Volunteers must have their own saddles, bridles and other tack, along with a horse trailer or other way to get their steed to training and events. A background check and safety evaluation are also necessary, the department said.
Both the Stockton Police Department and San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office have long used mounted patrols as part of their policing and community outreach. In one such instance, sheriff’s deputies keeping watch over a city shopping center during the holiday season helped round up suspected shoplifters.
And when Sheriff Patrick Withrow’s favorite horse, Hondo, died recently, there was an outpouring of grief among law enforcement and the community.