Meet the NYPD mounted unit patrolling Bay Ridge
Officers on horseback help keep community safe
“A horse is a horse of course, of course,” unless the horse is part of the NYPD Mounted Unit, a program that enables them to help protect the community.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon in Bay Ridge, two mounted police officers were patrolling the area by 86th Street and Shore Road Park. These large and beautifully groomed creatures are part of a borough-wide effort to control crime while keeping watch over parks and recreational areas.
The mounted unit has approximately 55 horses and 100 officers. An officer with at least three years of experience can apply to become part of the unit. After being chosen, an officer must undergo a rigorous training process, working five or six hours a day for up to six months.