June 23, 2005


Animal ambassadors

Citizens form advocacy organization to assist San Jose Police Mounted Unit

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

The San Jose Police Department has some new friends who take their mission seriously enough to form a corporation, elect officers, file for nonprofit status, and forge ahead with fund-raising campaigns.

Looking at successes in New York, Canada, and other large metropolitan cities, the SJPD Mounted Unit could be critical to future downtown policing strategies—especially where riots and protests are involved. The seven existing officer/horse teams work hard—with limited resources—to keep up with the current schedule, including appearances at downtown’s Christmas in the Park. Shown from left, Officer Cooper on Cal, volunteer advocate and board member of the new Friends of the San Jose Mounted Police Maggie Kelly, Officer Berto on Bandit, and Sgt. Greg Trapp on Hamlet.

But the money won’t be used for new patrol cars, nor will it go toward high-tech radar guns and lasers anytime soon. In fact, most of the patrol, traffic, and beat officers will be on their own this time around, as Friends of the San Jose Mounted Unit [FSJMU] sets its sights instead on a small group of 1,000- to 2,000-pound “gentle giants” that cannot speak for themselves, yet have a natural way of drawing police officers and the public together for casual conversation.

[FSJMU] President Denelle Fedor made it official on Tuesday with a formal announcement to members of the City Council during their weekly session, stressing the nonprofit organization’s mission to preserve, maintain and promote the mounted unit through fund-raising and public outreach.

Fedor, a 30-year resident of San Jose, is no stranger to police and city policy, having served as a legislative aid for former Vice Mayor Pat Dando, until term limits forced both women to pack up their sixth floor offices. However, she hopes that her experience with city policy and budgetary issues, along with a close police department relationship and other contacts she’s made over the years will give her enough of an advantage to start making a difference early on.

“This has been a long time coming,” exclaims Dando. “I consider the mounted unit ambassadors to the city of San Jose. They very often appear at all kinds of events, from park openings to supporting the domestic violence walk each fall. They are involved in other community activities throughout the year. It’s also important to remember that these officers on horses are very often the first introduction of police officers to the community, from the little toddler to the burly strong man or a little old lady. When a police officer is on a horse, it sets a whole new tone for what police officers do for our community.”

Although not on the SJPD payroll, Maggie Kelly loves being a surrogate mother for the department’s horses, including Hamlet, shown just prior to entering the Grand National Horse Show.

“Whenever a group takes the initiative and gets involved, we’re very appreciative,” adds Police Chief Rob Davis. “We applaud their efforts and we support their work ethic to see how they can be of assistance.”

With retired mounted unit officer John Campbell as vice president and Maggie Kelly, a fierce citizen volunteer on board, the team says the response has been positive.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for five years,” admits Kelly. “But when you try to do something alone, it’s impossible. Now, what one couldn’t do alone, we’ll all do together.”

Campbell believes in fighting for a unit he feels is essential and shows a dynamic reflection of a high-tech city with a bridge to the past.

“And it’s a good crowd-control unit,” he says. “A well trained officer on horseback is the same as 10 officers on foot.”

Already well-known in San Jose, the mounted unit has earned its time in the spotlight as an award-winning team with national recognition—currently on a two-year roll as grand national champions, coupled last year with a commendation from the city.

The national recognition for their skills also earned the team a special commendation last year.

“I do think the most important role the mounted unit plays is that of ambassadors for the city of San Jose,” stressed Dando.

The history
The San Jose Mounted Unit {FSJMU} has roots that trace back nearly 20 years, when then Police Chief Joe McNamara and former Mayor Tom McEnery established the division in 1986. At the time, a downtown task force advocated for the creation of a mounted unit and raised more than $70,000 to fund its formation.

“Since that time however, the task force has dismantled, leaving the broader community without a group to turn to in support of the mounted unit,” Fedor says. “This is why myself and others have created Friends of the San Jose Mounted Unit.”

“A lot of people got the wrong idea at first and thought it was a public relations gesture,” McHenry admits. “And while it is excellent public relations, it’s very important to make sure that people are aware that the police are very much present. The idea of making people feel safe downtown was much more important than public relations.”

At 20 years old, Shadow is still quick enough to sneak around the bend to steal a quick snack and earn the title of “Treat Muncher.”

Soon arrests were up, thanks to the vantage point atop a horse that enabled officers to see and more effectively apprehend their suspects. “It proved to the rest of the force that these were real cops out there and not just PR,” John Campbell adds.

Currently, only seven officers patrol the downtown area on horseback. Looking at successes in New York, Canada, and other large metropolitan cities, the SJPD Mounted Unit could be critical to future downtown policing strategies—especially where riots and protests are involved. The seven existing officer/horse teams work hard with limited resources to keep up with the current schedule, including appearances at downtown’s Christmas in the Park.

“It’s a good part of the policing aspect in the community. Officers are chosen because of their ability to communicate with the public they do a lot of presentations at schools and large downtown events. Campbell agrees that the most valuable benefit is to the community, especially when it comes to the interactions of the citizens themselves.

“When was the last time somebody came up and asked to pet your car?” he asks. “It gets a great dialogue going. I’m hoping to see that it remains with the department and doesn’t disappear,” he adds. “The benefit of that unit is essential to this police department.”

“I’m hoping to see that it remains with the department and doesn’t disappear. The benefit of the unit is essential to this police department.”

“The most important role that our group will play is advocacy,” explains Fedor. “The Friends of the San Jose Mounted Unit will be an asset to elected city officials as well as a resource and point of contact.”

Immediate needs
According to Trapp, the unit’s immediate needs are also among the costliest. It would take over $100,000—an entire year’s budget—to replace two weathered and rusting trailers and a new truck to safely haul the horses to each event.

Friends of the San Jose Mounted Unit President Denelle Fedor remembers the day her father created her favorite animal, a horse out of old wood and old nails. Later that year, he amazed her again—only this time with a real one. She was five years old.

“They are almost at the point where they will be irreparable and there’s not enough money in the city budget to cover them,” Trap says. “We’ve been told there’s no money for vehicles and these trailers are all over 10 years old. The truck is getting old and dilapidated. ”

With fence lines in need of repair and ongoing maintenance, the $100,000 budget from the city is enough to get by, but not enough Trapp says for the luxury of fixing fences and other unexpected things that come up.
Trapp likes the alliance with FSJMU, as well as the full circle connection he sees. It will make for a good partnership.

“I think its great to see this because the mounted unit is the only unit in the police department that was started by the community, he says. “It’s great to have community support and feel revitalized again.”

Giving back
The natural good will ambassadors are equally impressive, Maggie says, when giving presentations to elementary school children. They act like people magnets—community relations success stories that draw the public to interact with the animals and then strike up impromptu conversations with the officers.

“This makes the mounted unit not only an effective policing tool for the growing San Jose community, but an equally successful community outreach tool as well,” says Fedor.

For more information call (408) 450-8648 or visit www.friendsofsjmo.org.