Equestrian Network Magazine

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff Mounted Division (Reserve)

by Laura White Buxton

The term reserve includes many types of law enforcement officers. They may be volunteer or part-time paid. The important distinction between reserve and career law enforcement officers (also called "regular officers") is that reserve employment, if paid, is not the person's primary source of income.

In the 1940's, many communities across the United States created volunteer auxiliary police and sheriff units. These officers provided law enforcement services to communities who had lost manpower to the military and needed extra protection for strategic facilities during the war. After the war, many of these units came under Civil Defense, which later became emergency management, an important part of Homeland Security.

The 1950s, 60s and 70s saw a growth in reserve law enforcement in the US. Then in the 1980s there was a decline in the number of reserve law enforcement programs and officers. After 9/11/01, there has been a renewed interested in volunteer law enforcement. Homeland security is now an issue and people want to be involved.

Formed in 1961, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Mounted Division is incorporated as a non-profit organization and donations to the Division are tax deductible. There are no public funds used to support the Division. All expenses are covered by donations and fund-raising events. The Mounted Division continues the grand tradition of the old west by providing volunteer law enforcement services to the Sheriff. The highly trained deputies patrol in areas where horses are advantageous. Horses are highly visible to the public, and make it much easier for the rider to see in crowds and parking lots. Most people feel safer knowing a Mounted Sheriff is on duty!

Along with providing support in times of civil unrest, the Mounted Division patrols at local shopping malls, college football games, entertainment festivals, and many places and events within Kalamazoo County. The Division served as part of the Presidential Secret Service Detail during President Bush's recent visits to Kalamazoo; has assisted in providing riot control at Western Michigan University, in the city of Kalamazoo (a recent Ku Klux Klan rally comes to mind); and is "on-call" at all times should the Sheriff require assistance in any form. Search and rescue is also an important function provided by our unit, and our horses may work in conjunction with police dogs or bloodhounds.

After 9/11/01, there has been a renewed interested in volunteer law enforcement.

Membership Requirements & Training

Membership in the Mounted Division requires a significant commitment to training and service to the community, as well as a financial investment. There is personal expense associated with being a Mounted Deputy Sheriff. Members must furnish their own horse, weapon, boots, spurs, saddle, and other equipment such as a a horse trailer and a tow vehicle. This expense can easily total thousands of dollars annually.

Prospective members must be age 21 or older, be felony-free, and be subject to callout at any time by the Sheriff Department. They must also be willing and able to attend ongoing horse training and qualification.

Each applicant is screened by the Sheriff's Office using the same criteria used for regular Deputies. Candidates must attend the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Reserve Academy for over 100 hours of classroom and field training. Graduating members are commissioned by the Sheriff as Special Deputies.

Once a person is notified of tentative selection to the Academy, classes begin in January each year, and graduation is in June. The Academy is a classroom with "hands on" experience that teaches you how to be the best Reserve Officer you can be, and will provide instruction that includes Criminal and Procedural Law; Patrol and Radio Procedures; Interview; Motor Carrier Safety; Crime Scene/Evidence Handling; Robbery and Crimes in Progress; Use of Chemical Agents; Firearms; Defensive Tactics; Use of Force; Traffic Enforcement; Search/Handcuff; Assault/Domestic Violence; Tactical Communication and much much more.

Upon graduation from the Reserve Academy, the new member will undergo more extensive training procedures applicable to persons on horseback, such as traffic patrol and safety, arrest procedures, breaking up fights, crowd control, and public relations. The Mounted Division is proud to be a front-line representative of the Sheriff Department, and as such can be a wonderful tool to "break the ice" in a potential situation. A local deputy was heard stating "Most people would never approach an officer in a patrol car, but they all come right up and pet the officer's horse!"

Horses and Training

The horses of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Mounted Division are privately owned by the individual members. They consist of various breeds including Quarter Horses, Paints, Gaited horses and Drafts. The horses, like each individual member, come from many different backgrounds, including ex-racehorses, show horses, "auction rescues" and family pets.

The height of the horses range in size from a minimum of 15 up to 17 hands, measured at the top of the shoulder, or "withers" (a "hand" measures 4 inches. Therefore a 15-hand horse will be 60 inches, or 5 feet tall at the shoulder.) Most mounts weigh 1000 or more pounds - the draft breeds can reach 1500-1800 pounds!

Our horses receive extensive on-going training including exposure to crowds, noise and other distractions, negotiation of obstacles and close order drill, as well as "mock scenarios". All horses must meet certain criteria to be successful; the best quality for a police horse is a calm, understanding attitude. They must not kick or bite; must be able to work in traffic or large crowds of people; must be able to stand calmly during a commotion; and must be maneuverable. Many citizens are very surprised to see what our horses can do - stand on a runway while planes land; escort a wailing fire truck through a crowd of people; climb a flight of stairs; quell a riot; or stand quietly while being hugged by a 3 year old child with a handful of balloons.

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