The Mounted Unit: Hawaii's ambassadors of aloha

by MICHELE VAN HESSEN
Sun Correspondent
*Archived May 2006 article

Chief Donahue introduced the Honolulu Police Mounted Unit as a pilot program in 1999, and appointed Sergeant Wilson to design an intensive program involving training the riders and the horses. Wilson owned a horse and had been western riding since the age of thirteen. Any officer who was interested in training for the new unit had to own a horse, tackle and trailer. Applicants needed to pass the department's fitness test but there was no requirement of previous riding experience. Officer Sharon Walden has always loved animals. So she signed up for the mounted unit training and brought an Arabian horse. Arabians were bred as war mounts. They have incredible endurance, unparalleled beauty, a rich history and a unique ability to bond with their owner but they are known for being very high-spirited. "It was like learning to drive on a NASCAR," laughed Officer Walden. "After I got my first horse," she continued, "I learned that Quarter Horse geldings are the traditional horses used by mounted officers because they have the right temperament for police work." It is difficult and takes phone calls, time and travel to find one good mounted horse for a unit that meets the requirements of being a dark-colored horse, at least 8 years old, 15.2 to 16.2 hands high just to be trained to handle downtown and park activities.

The Honolulu mounted unit officers receive training from Sergeant Wilson, which facilitates them and their horses with the ability to perform police duties in urban areas. "The unit is used for crowd control. It patrols parks and the Aloha Stadium parking lot during games and it goes to high crime areas," said Sergeant Wilson. She continued to explain that "mounted officers work the streets and horses are generally unaccustomed to the everyday activities and noises of a city, so the training instills a deep trust between the rider and the horse for understanding the environment." During a sixteen-week training course, Sergeant Wilson teaches her fellow officers to maneuver their horses easily and without incident in areas of heavy traffic filled with both people and vehicles.

Officers and their mounts also receive training in arrest, crowd control, various methods of moving large numbers of people with minimal force, search techniques, traffic stops, ticket writing, and other law enforcement activities. "What the horses give us is added mobility, high visibility and they're really approachable. The horses are an enormous crime prevention tool," said Officer Michael McKiney, who has been part of the unit from its conception. "The horses give us a more friendly presence and adds visibility far beyond other officers' capacities when patrolling on bicycles or even in patrol cars," he continued. The partnership between mount and rider truly brings out the best behavior in any horse, which has a natural flight instinct, and it is only through shared experience with its rider that a police horse can accept commotion.

The Honolulu Police department originally purchased six horses for the mounted unit. One Percheron donated horse now retried was named Chief Lee. The Percheron breed from France is shrouded in myth. Accustomed to the affectionate attention from an entire household these horses are very docile but they have the ability to trot from 7 to 10 miles per hour and the endurance to do it day in and day out. The other horses associated with the Honolulu mounted unit are named Cruiser, Cynbab, Justice, Koa, Kuhio, Scout, Steel and Trooper. A wonderful activity coloring book for children, designed by Sharon Walden and Chun Yee with artistry by Kevin Napoleon, uses Koa the police horse to introduce the concept of a paniolo who is hardworking and honest. The book also has safety tips teaching integrity, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness.

Since the pilot program, to help train the department's animals Sergeant Wilson and Officer Walden have been using their own horses. There are openings for mounted officers and any trained police officer can apply. The department's horses are maintained at the New Town and Country Stables in Waimanalo. All of the animals are now geldings and are the only kind of horse the unit will accept. Members of the unit help keep costs down by taking care of the horses. The department has established a nonprofit foundation to accept donations for the mounted unit. "Our vision is to become self-sufficient, double in size in a couple of years and run and maintain our own stable," said Officer Wilson.

The Honolulu Police Department's Mounted Unit is also assigned to the Community Affairs Section to promote positive relations with the community. The unit conducts presentations at community events and at schools. For further information contact the Honolulu Police Department, 801 South Beretania Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 or email: hpd@honolulupd.org. The website is www.honolulupd.org and remember: be informed and make the right choices and say "neigh" to drugs.