The Kokomo Police Department is launching a Mounted Patrol Unit.
Mayor Greg Goodnight says the mounted horse patrols will serve the downtown area and the city‘s park and trails system and will mostly be used for special events such as festivals and concerts.
Goodnight says the city decided to create mounted patrols because they have proven to work well as supplements for patrol officers in other cities. He adds they also help to promote goodwill among the public.
"We also think this will be nice for a lot of younger people in our community to be exposed, to have a positive view of a nice community policing and have a positive view of our officers," he says.
Goodnight also says the additional police patrol is not a response to increased crime.
The city will lease the horses which Goodnight says will minimize start-up costs. The department aims to use draft-cross horses due to their size and demeanor. Quarter horses are used by many departments with mounted patrols.
Officers have begun their initial training for the mounted patrols.