History
In July of 2000, with the help of the New York State Park Police and the loan of one of their horses, the department initiated the use of a mounted patrol in and around the narrow residential streets of the Saratoga Race Track. The department was trying to find a better way to supervise the traffic control officers, get through traffic to expedite departure of the track patrons and to prevent thefts from cars in the parking lots. At the end of the racing season a critique of the program proved it was a big success.
In September of 2001 the department took possession of its first horse. Louise Leppert of Hudson Falls New York donated a 17 hand standard-bred gelding named “Of Course I Can” to the department. The horse had raced on the harness track and at the end of his racing career his owner had decided to give him to a police department. At the end of his police training he was renamed Zeus as is customary with police horses. He served the department for 3 years until his death in September 2003 as the result of West Nile virus.
The department was determined to keep the mounted patrol program going and in November of 2003 Joanne Hamilton of Ballston Spa New York donated to the department an 8-year old standard-bred gelding named "Jo Jo Geronimo". At the end of his police training he was renamed Jupiter and is scheduled to start work in the spring of 2004. There are currently 2 trained mounted officers and 1 horse in the department. The police administration is interested in increasing the program. The department relies on donations for its horses and contributions to the program to supplement the programs budget.
In September of 2001 the department took possession of its first horse. Louise Leppert of Hudson Falls New York donated a 17 hand standard-bred gelding named “Of Course I Can” to the department. The horse had raced on the harness track and at the end of his racing career his owner had decided to give him to a police department. At the end of his police training he was renamed Zeus as is customary with police horses. He served the department for 3 years until his death in September 2003 as the result of West Nile virus.
The department was determined to keep the mounted patrol program going and in November of 2003 Joanne Hamilton of Ballston Spa New York donated to the department an 8-year old standard-bred gelding named "Jo Jo Geronimo". At the end of his police training he was renamed Jupiter and is scheduled to start work in the spring of 2004. There are currently 2 trained mounted officers and 1 horse in the department. The police administration is interested in increasing the program. The department relies on donations for its horses and contributions to the program to supplement the programs budget.