I S S U E 2

Officer Reilly and Cannon Troop B — West 42nd Street

A Riot in the City

or officer Richard DePamphlis, the most challenging and frightening moment he faced as a mounted policeman occurred during the 1988 Tompkins Square riots in Manhattan's East Village. As demonstrators protesting the overnight closing of the park began throwing rocks and bottles, the situation became increasingly dangerous.

"You have to remember that you're sitting on a wild animal's back." —Officer Savarese

Some of the protestors lit trashcans on fire and set off firecrackers. Waiting in formation with a dozen of other policemen, DePamphlis could feel his mount's heart beating under him. DePamphlis knew the horse was moments away from bolting. A horse's first instinct is to flee from danger — DePamphlis hoped that a combination of steady hands and mutual trust would calm the animal. It did.

Patrolling the Streets of New York

How does the New York Police Department's Mounted Unit train horses to cope with not only menacing crowds, but the everyday facts of New York City life — backfiring trucks, trains rumbling underfoot, even tourist-filled Times Square? It's not easy. For every 10 horses considered for "active duty," only one or two make the list. Training for both horse and rider is completed at the Remount Facility in the Bronx. There, the officers learn not only how to ride and care for a horse, but also the hand signals, formations and crowd-control exercises that are particular to the Mounted Unit.

Sgt. Howard feeds one of Troop B's horses

"Through it all, you have to remember that you're sitting on a wild animal's back," says officer Ron Savarese, who has been a mounted policeman for seven years. "All those accessories [bridle, saddle] don't matter. Horses understand trust - you have to think like them and feel like them."

After the Remount training, the horses have to pass a probationary period, which varies in length depending on the horse. Only when the horse is deemed ready for active duty is it formally named - often after members of the NYPD who were killed in the line of duty. About 100 horses and police officers patrol Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan, covering demonstrations, parades - even the World Series.

For Savarese, being a mounted policeman transcends the "blue wall" between police and civilian. "The horse acts as a common bond between the police and the citizens," says Savarese. "Every day in mounted is a parade."

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