MIAMI — A new group of South Florida law enforcement members are getting ready to hit the streets on saddles!
After six weeks of intense training, five Miami police officers and their horses are set to officially become part of South Florida’s local mounted patrol units.
There’s nothing these soon-to-be patrol horses and their equestrian partners won’t be ready for when they’re through with the mounted patrol training program.
“The more stimulus they get here in training, the better they react when they’re out on the street,” Miami police Sgt. Eric Marti said.
The finish line is near for five trainees who say the experience has been quite the learning curve, and not just for the horses.
“Oh 100%, I’ve fallen off the horse a few times. It can happen to anybody while you’re riding, getting on, getting off. There’s definitely painful moments,” Officer Melanie Rodriguez said.
When it comes to pool noodles, drones, robo dogs and more, officers explain why the training needs to be tough.
“The mounted patrol unit is a crucial unit in the sense that it’s great when it comes to crowd control,” Marti said.
From crime scenes to special events, they have to be ready to respond to all kinds of situations in our neighborhoods.
“So we get them from zero and by the end, they’re proficient and ready to hit the streets,” Marti said.
On top of keeping people safe, officers say mounted patrol units are also naturally helping bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community.
“People love the horses, so it draws their attention,” Rodriguez said.
“People that might not normally care or have an interest to speak to an officer, now that horse sort of attracts them and it allows us to interact with the community on our daily patrols,” Marti said.
The officers will officially hit the streets following their graduation on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
The City of Miami Police mounted patrol unit is currently the largest of its kind in the state.
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