The Lancaster City Bureau of Police established the Mounted Unit in 1979 with the assistance and encouragement of Mayor Albert Wohlson. Since its implementation, the Mounted Unit has provided the downtown business district and surrounding neighborhoods of Lancaster City with a unique, functional, and highly-visible presence in deterring crime and making our city a safer place to live, work, and play.
Mounted officers have the advantage of an elevated perspective allowing them to see and be seen from greater distances. Sitting on top horseback provides our officers with a commanding point of view which is highly beneficial to the police force when navigating large crowds and urban areas. Mounted officers can patrol greater distances than if they were on foot, but are still capable of maneuvering through city parks and foot alleys in between homes.
Our horses receive sensory training to prepare them for the obstacles and challenges they may encounter on the street. This type of training includes but is not limited to fireworks, smoke, and gunfire exposure. Our officers also attend Mounted Police Training Courses with other units to ensure the team is capable of performing their duties to the best of their abilities.
Mounted Unit Duties
- Issue Parking Tickets and Traffic Citations
- Assist in Traffic Accidents
- Crowd Control Management
- Search for Missing Children
- Pursue Wanted Subjects
- Protect Foreign and Domestic Dignitaries
For a Mounted officer, the majority of the job experience is engaging with the public. Adults and children alike light up when presented with an opportunity to interact with our Mounted Unit. For many, it’s a first-time encounter with a horse or a police officer. The officers assigned to this unit are great representatives of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police and will ensure the interaction is a positive one. Over the last forty years, our Mounted officers have forged long-lasting positive relationships between the department and the community.
The Mounted Unit usually attends community engagement events, firework displays, or other events that will attract large crowds in the downtown area. Other cities and departments have also utilized Lancaster City’s Mounted Unit to assist them with musical festivals, large conferences, and even a visit from Pope Francis! If you ever see the Mounted Unit in downtown Lancaster or at other events, please don’t hesitate to introduce yourself. Our officers and their mounts would love to meet your acquaintance.
Support the Mounted Unit
The Lancaster City’s Mounted Unit is supported by the Lancaster Police Foundation and through donations from individuals, businesses, and community groups. Donations cover feed, fencing, supplies, utilities, track, veterinary visits, and barn maintenance. If you would like to support our Mounted Unit, please contact Lt. Glenn Stoltzfus by phone at 717-735-1784 or by email at [email protected].
