U. S. CAPITOL POLICE HORSE-MOUNTED UNIT NEEDS TO BE REINSTATED By Karen L. Bune

The United States Capitol Police force is a highly professional law enforcement agency with well trained and top caliber police professionals. Their job entails numerous challenges in protecting the United States Capitol and surrounding areas, all members of Congress and employees in the Capitol complex, and visitors. It is critical that officers have the necessary equipment, tools, and units to allow them to perform their duties.

One critical unit that is presently lacking is their horse-mounted unit. Though the force previously had one thanks to the insight and efforts of former United States Capitol Police Chief, Terrance W. Gainer, its tenure was short-lived. The unit was only in existence for only 14 months when it was disbanded in September 2005 as a result of congressional action that was initiated and spearheaded by Congressman James Moran (D-Va.) and some other select congressmen. The unit was a short-lived success, and it was relatively inexpensive to maintain because the officers in the unit assumed most of the responsibility for caring, feeding, and maintaining the horses which curtailed any major expenditures.

A unit of this type is vital to law enforcement efforts in the nation’s capitol because it has a highly visible presence. During protests, which are common at the U. S. Capitol, this unit would be able to manage crowd control and quickly curtail and disrupt the potential for violence and destruction of property that could ensue as a consequence. The mounted patrol can serve as a barrier between protestors and counter-protestors and can act as a shield between the opposing participants during a demonstration. The horses are able to move crowds; most people are afraid of them and will not dare to defiantly engage the horse-mounted officer when confronted in a crowded situation.

A horse-mounted officer is the equivalent to 10 officers on foot, and the horse-mounted officer is able to quickly gain access to areas not easily accessible to officers on foot or in cruisers. Because the officer sits so high upon the horse, the officer has an excellent field of vision and is able to readily observe activity on the ground that cannot be seen by an officer on foot or in a cruiser. The horse-mounted officer is able to look into vehicles and observe suspicious behavior. Because of its visible presence, a unit of this type has a deterrent effect and can prevent crimes form occurring particularly when potential criminals can see its presence. The horse-mounted unit is also significant in dealing with terrorist threats. It serves as a huge deterrent because if any potential terrorists are scoping the layout of the Capitol, they will quickly observe the presence of the mounted officers on patrol which may preclude them from following through on their plans. Moreover, the officers may also notice suspicious activity that leads to immediate investigation.

The horse-mounted unit also serves as a great public relations tool. There are constantly many people, including dignitaries, from all over the world, who visit the nation’s Capitol. They want to feel safe and secure, and the sight of the horses not only serves as a calming presence but provides an opportunity for visitors from various cultures to understand the role of police officers and provides them a non-threatening way in which to establish friendly dialogue and enhance police-community relations.

“Mounted units are force multipliers for several reasons. They are great in crowd management situations; they make an impression. Second, the public loves them which is great for police image, the officers, and visible and interactive with the public. And, finally, they improve morale. The officers like coming to work,” says former U. S. Capitol Police Chief and current U. S. Senate sergeant-at-arms, Terrance W. Gainer.

When he was police chief, Gainer was instrumental in establishing the unit and was very supportive of its efforts. He recognized the importance of the unit and understood the importance of it on Capitol Hill. When it existed, the unit was headed by Sgt. Kathy Bignotti. The mounted officers, who were part of that unit, were passionate about their work and diligent in their duties.

Disbanding the unit was a tremendous mistake, and it is now time to reinstate that unit. Congress must evaluate the vital need for this unit, and the current U. S. Capitol Police Chief, Philip Morse, needs to take a proactive stance and make a concerted effort to do what he can, in his leadership role, to get this unit reinstated. Other units in the country-- including Tampa, Atlanta, and Chicago-- to name a few, previously had their units dismantled but recognized the absence of their units was a significant mistake and had them subsequently reinstated. They are all now functional and successful units whose importance in their regions is clearly recognized.

The nation’s Capitol also needs their horse-mounted unit back and the sooner, the better. If everyone puts their money where their mouth is when the talk centers upon public safety, homeland security, crime prevention, and community outreach, then the reinstatement of the U. S. Capitol Police Horse-Mounted Unit should be an easy task to accomplish.