MOUNTED DEPUTIES ON PALMDALE PATROL.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer Deputies on horseback on the back of a horse; mounted or riding on a horse or horses; in the saddle. See also: Horseback are the latest effort to reduce crime - particularly drug trafficking and burglaries - in downtown Palmdale. Since starting last month, the unit has made several arrests including a person in possession of marijuana marijuana or marihuana, drug obtained from the flowering tops, stems, and leaves of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa (see hemp) or C. indica; the latter species can withstand colder climates. , a forgery forgery, in art forgery, in art, the false claim to authenticity for a work of art. The Nature of Forgery Because the provenance of works of art is seldom clear and because their origin is often judged by means of subtle factors, art suspect who ran from deputies after passing counterfeits bills, a person wanted on warrants, and vehicle code violators - they gesture to motorists they want to pull over. ``They can do anything that regular deputies can do,'' said Sgt. Bill Thompson, in charge of the unit. ``It's a lot more up-close and personal. A lot of people aren't expecting the horses. We can stand there for a long time, and they don't realize that we're watching them.'' Three deputies at a time patrol Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through a two-square-mile section of downtown Palmdale known as the Partners Against Crime area, where deputies are working with residents in a concentrated effort to clean up crime and nuisance problems in the neighborhood. The primary mission of the deputies is to provide a highly visible law enforcement presence. ``Being on horseback can be a great crime deterrent,'' said Deputy Janice Wickham, who normally works out of the Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, sheriff's station but was riding off-duty in Palmdale. ``People tend to get intimidated in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. when they see a 1,200-pound animal heading toward them.'' ``This is great exposure,'' Wickham added. ``I love it.'' Last week, mounted deputies stopped a motorist whose children weren't in car seats. As they talked to him, they saw marijuana on a seat. ``From atop a horse, they can look right in,'' Thompson said. ``Having height has its advantages.'' If a deputy has to dismount to search a person, he or she keeps control of the his horse with a 14-foot lead. The deputies ride in uniforms adapted to horseback: riding breeches, black boots and campaign hat. The horses are also uniformed with green saddle blankets emblazoned LASD LASD Los Angeles Sheriff's Department LASD Leechburg Area School District (Pennsylvania) LASD Liquid Applied Sound Deadener (sprayed coating on frame of cars to absorb sound and vibration) , and bridles with a sheriff's star and logo. The deputies are armed and carry two-way radios A voice network that provides an always-on connection enabling the user to just "push the button and talk." Also called "dispatch radio," two-way radio has traditionally been used by police, fire, taxi and other mobile fleets. . During their circuits of downtown, the unit stops to talk with neighborhood kids fascinated by the horses, passing out Sheriff's Department POGs, posing for photos and allowing their horses to be petted. ``The horse is a major attraction,'' said Deputy Dave Disbro, who works full time with the mounted unit. ``Kids and crooks alike will want to come pet the horse.'' The Sheriff's Department Mounted Enforcement Detail got its start in 1982 in preparation to handle crowd control during the 1984 Olympics. In the last two years, MED has gone from about 15 members to more than 50. The unit is made up of 38 regular sheriff's deputies, who are assigned to the MED during special projects or who volunteer their off-duty time, and 15 reserve deputies, who must serve at least 20 hours per month. Six civilian volunteers assist in grooming and caring for the horses. ``Everyone in the unit must own their own horse and equipment,'' Disbro said. ``They must have their own truck and trailer. Being a voluntary unit, it's a big commitment. Reserve sheriff's Deputy Linda Corona Corona, city, United States Corona (kərō`nə), city (1990 pop. 76,095), Riverside co., S Calif.; inc. 1896. The city developed as a primary citrus fruit producer and shipping center. There is also light manufacturing. has been on mounted patrol for 12 years. ``I was riding my horse quite a bit,'' said Corona, an Agua Dulce Agua Dulce is Spanish for "sweet water". It also refers to various locations: In Mexico:
Corona rides on patrol about four times a month and helps with the training of other deputies. ``If I had kids I don't think I would be able to do this,'' she said. In order to be a part of the MED, each deputy must undergo one year of training and a selection process that includes horsemanship horsemanship: see equestrianism. horsemanship Art of training, riding, and handling horses. Good horsemanship requires that a rider control the animal's direction, gait, and speed with maximum effectiveness and minimum effort. . Horses are tested on commands and how they react to sudden noises, movements and crowds. During the summer months, mounted deputies patrol beaches. At Christmas, they patrol shopping center shopping center, a concentration of retail, service, and entertainment enterprises designed to serve the surrounding region. The modern shopping center differs from its antecedents—bazaars and marketplaces—in that the shops are usually amalgamated into parking lots for auto thefts and car burglaries. ``We've done presidential protection, parades, honor guard and saturation patrol,'' Disbro said. ``We're a county resource that can be called out on numerous activities.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color) Children admire horses ridden by deputies with the Sheriff's Department Mounted Enforcement Detail, which patrols downtown Palmdale. Bhavna Mistry/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion