A group of galloping guardians charged with keeping Denver safe is the last and only full-time Mounted Patrol Unit in the state.
Why it matters: The four-legged squad not only helps protect city streets, but is also playing a key role in connecting and building trust between Denver police and the community.
By the numbers: The Denver Police Mounted Patrol Unit currently consists of five male horses and six people — one sergeant, four officers and a stable master.
- Trotting to the rescue are equine officers Maverick, a 14-year-old mustang; Maximus, a 16-year-old appendix; Ollie, a 10-year-old paint; Orei, an 8-year-old warmblood; and Wylie, another 16-year-old appendix.
- They share one "police barn" located in southwest Denver.
Zoom in: Maverick has the most storied history, his mounted patrol officer Emily Herbst tells us. He was born in the wild, then served as a ranch horse for about eight years before joining the force."He's a wild one," she says with a laugh.
How it works: To be picked for the patrol unit, officers look for horses that are bigger and stockier to ensure they can carry officers and their gear, as well as those between 8-12 years old to make sure they're "mentally mature."
- The horses tend to put in 8 to 10 years of work before they're retired around age 20.
The intrigue: The team is funded primarily by public donations through the Denver Police Foundation.
Flashback: The mounted patrol unit was reinstated in the mid-1980s after being disbanded in the '30s to help "bring back that Western heritage and tradition," Herbst says.
The big picture: Although its primary function is allowing officers to respond to calls for service on horseback instead of in cars, in recent decades it's become a "strong community engagement" tool, Herbst tells us.
- The team is also tasked with leading all the city's major parades.
The bottom line: If you see these hooved helpers on the street, don't be shy to go up and say hi.
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