Broken Arrow's Mounted Patrol Unit Builds Relationship, Enhances Security

Broken Arrow Police Department's newest addition is putting smiles on faces in the community.

The Mounted Patrol Unit held a meet and greet Saturday after graduating fourteen officers and their horses.

Officers say the unit is all about making a presence and being approachable within the community, but there are security benefits, too.

Three out of the unit's fourteen horses made an appearance at Southern Agriculture where the department invited everyone to come out for free food, face painting, and to take pictures.

Sergeant Daniel Hurst said it’s the first Mounted Patrol Unit for the department and other departments in the area are talking about starting their own.

"Typically, law enforcement at times is hard to approach, but all the sudden you introduce an animal into the project and people are more willing to come up to you. Especially horses," Hurst said.

Hurst says the unit will allow officers to keep alert from a higher elevation when in crowds and naturally invites people to talk to them.

"It allows people to come up to the horses. Makes them feel more welcomed and it's easier to approach officers and we have better community involvement," Hurst said. "You can just see already how easy it is for kids to come up - and families to come up and see the animals."

Families say they are looking forward to seeing the mounted patrol unit at city events.

"I think that'd be awesome. I think we'd have a lot of kids that would stop by and talk to them. I know my son is enjoying the horses being out here," Broken Arrow resident Karla Manos said.

Hurst says since it is a new program, there is still a lot of training ahead, but the goal is to have the Mounted Patrol Unit at every special event the city holds.