Mounted Patrol Unit
The Butler County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol is a dedicated group of volunteers who are Honorary Special Deputies with the Sheriff’s Department. They come from all walks of life including business, education, factories, offices, construction, and law enforcement. All members share a common interest in horses, law enforcement, and serving their community.
The Mounted Patrol has fourteen (14) members and four (4) “Friends of the Butler County Mounted Patrol Members,” who in total have volunteered one thousand and ninety two (1,092) hours of service in 2017 at no cost to the community. Members range in age from twenty-two (22) to eighty-seven (87) and have a total of two hundred forty-three and a half (243.5) years of experience.
All members have passed a personal interview, criminal background check, financial background check, drug screen, and horsemanship test. They are required to be active within the unit throughout the year and are required to stay certified through trainings that are offered within the Sheriff’s Office.
The members participate in many activities throughout the county. Activities in 2017 included: the Butler County Fair, Memorial Day and Independence Day parades in Hamilton, the Strawberry Festival in Shandon, Darrtown Community Parade, and Halloween at the Sheriff’s Office, Christmas in Shandon, the Buckeye State Mounted Patrol meetings, Buckeye State Mounted Patrol rides, along with monthly unit meetings at the Sheriff’s Office.
The year 2017 brought a lot of changes to the Mounted Patrol Unit, including the addition of three (3) auxiliary members and the launch of the Junior Mounted Patrol. With the revitalization of the auxiliary members, the Mounted Patrol will be able to boost participation with personnel, both certified and non-certified, by facilitating volunteers without their own horse to participate in activities.
The Junior Mounted Patrol volunteers will assist in the preparation, maintenance, care, and clean-up of the Mounted Patrol horses, in addition to learning essential horsemanship skills. The unit is always encouraging young horsemen and horsewomen to improve their skills, and will gladly assist in facilitating new junior members.
In 2011
A total of 19 members volunteered their time in 2011 at no cost to the citizens of Butler County.
In 2010
A total of 18 members in 2010 volunteered their time with over 2,000 hours of service at no cost to the citizens of Butler County. In May of 2010, six members of the Mounted Patrol traveled to and participated in the events for the Mounted Police Memorial Week in Washington, D.C.
If you are interested in joining the Butler County Sheriff’s Office mounted patrol please use the online application form found here.