Winston-Salem looks to return horse patrols to the community

  • 2019-09-15
The city of Winston-Salem is studying the possibility of bringing back horse patrols to the community.

Catrina Thompson, Police Chief of Winston-Salem, said there are many advantages to police officers patrolling the streets on horseback. It means they can observe a crowd from a more elevated view than that of an officer in a car or on foot, and is good for crowd control in general. Riding a horse also means they can to gallop to remote spots along recreational trails and difficult terrain, and can help to decrease crime as perpetrators would feel they could be detected much easier.

Jeff MacIntosh, Northwest Ward Council Member, added that as a crowd control mechanism, mounted officers can make themselves known but are not as threatening as other types of patrols. Flyer printing can be used to inform the community of such considerations and to gain their feedback.

Thompson said that startup costs for this patrol would be about $120,000 for four horses and four officers, not including salaries. These costs would go towards the horses themselves, a four-stall horse trailer, a truck with towing equipment, tack, and officer uniforms. Annual costs would be $37,000 with $12,000 for shoeing the horses and veterinary care and $25,000 to feed and board the horses.

City Manager Lee Garrity said that horse patrols would not be able to return to the city until the end of 2020 due the budgeting cycle.