The Detroit Police Department’s Mounted Police Division is one of our country’s oldest established law enforcement divisions, dating back to 1893 when it was founded.
The Division, aside from its legacy, has seen an unfortunate decline in officers and horses available. Once the mounted police had five barns, 80 officers, and more than 60 horses, but now they only operate from one barn in Palmer Park and have five horses.
These officers continue to patrol year round, performing their duty and ensuring the division does not get shut down.
In an effort to help continue the mounted police presence throughout the city, its neighborhoods and at special events, the DTE Energy Foundation has given the Detroit Public Safety Foundation a $75,000 grant for new equipment.
The DTE Energy Foundation and Detroit Police Department showcased the equipment, a new Ford F-450 truck and double-wide horse trailer, at DTE Energy’s downtown Detroit headquarters.
As a part of the contribution, Police Chief James E. Craig dedicated one of the two on-site horses in honor of Sgt. Joseph Abdella who recently passed while on duty. Sgt. Joseph Abdella was a 21 year veteran of the DPD and was last assigned to the Mounted Unit.
You can be sure to see more of DPD’s Mounted Police at all of Detroit’s major sporting events, cultural events, family outings and parades. They also patrol Detroit’s ever-growing neighborhoods, universities, Midtown, Downtown, and Eastern Market, along with major parks and shopping centers.
Check out their Facebook Page for more events and information.
