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The Hillsdale County Posse was
organized in August of 1975. There
were 11 original members under the
jurisdiction of Sheriff Edward Webb. The Posse represents part of the history of law and
order, when local town sheriffs would
call for a group of volunteers to
"mount-up" and ride out to apprehend
law-breakers and help maintain peace and
justice. Today the posse's name has been changed to the
Sheriff's Mounted Division. They
are still on call 24/7 to respond to
emergencies or special assignments when
ordered by the Sheriff.
Members of the Hillsdale County Sheriff's Mounted
Division are volunteers who are
dedicated to providing public safety and
security to the citizens of Hillsdale
County. They are sworn officers
who hold the rank of Special Deputy with
the Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office.
Regular members must complete weapons
and officer training programs. The Mounted Division is led by an elected Captain who
is supported by regional Lieutenants.
Other elected positions include
Executive Board members and a Liaison
Officer. Monthly meetings are held
at the Sheriff's Office in Hillsdale. Each member buys, owns and maintains his or her horse
and equipment. No funding is
received from the Hillsdale County
Sheriff's
Office. Funds to maintain the
Mounted activities and equipment are
raised by providing security services to
various organizations in the county.
Visibility is the key advantage of a mounted law
enforcement officer. Mounted
officers are very visible to would-be
law-breakers who may think twice about
engaging in any criminal behavior with a
mounted officer on the scene. The
visibility aspect also helps a person in
need to locate an officer quickly. Working the perimeter of a large crowd at a public
function, a mounted officer can spot the
core of the problem from his or her
vantage point. Whether the problem
is a disturbance or medical emergency,
the mounted officer will see it first
and can radio for assistance.
Mounted officers in the parking lot are very visible
for the driver to see for parking
assistance. Mounted officers are
also often asked to help locate a car
when someone has forgotten where they
have parked. Deterring crime and
spotting suspicious activity quickly is
another advantage to having a mounted
officer in the parking lot. Use of
the horse for crowd control and for
searches in dense terrain are additional
benefits of the mounted division.
The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Mounted Division is a
member of the Michigan State Mounted
Association and actively participates in
and supports the goals and activities of
the MSMA.
The future of the Hillsdale County Sheriff's Mounted Division is
dependent on maintaining a dedicated
group of volunteers who are interested
in preserving this traditional custom of
mounted law enforcement and public
service. Interested applicants can
contact any member or call the Hillsdale
County Sheriff's Office for further
information. In order to apply,
you must:
- ...be 21 years of age
or older,
- ...pass a criminal
background check,
- ...own a horse suited for
mounted service,
- ...demonstrate advanced
equestrian skills, and...
- ...be willing to actively
participate in meetings and
scheduled activities.
All
applicants must also complete the
officer training course, meet
proficiency requirements with the
designated service weapon and be willing
to financially invest in all equipment
and requirements.
The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Mounted Division is
available for community parades, parking
lot direction and security, security at
special events, corporate picnics,
festivals and fairs as well as traffic
control and direction. Call the
Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office for
your special event! Requests can
be made for both mounted officers or
ground security duty. The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Mounted Division accepts
parade invitations at no charge.
Donations for other security activities
are requested. Proceeds are used
for officer training and to maintain the
equipment and other needs.
The Mounted Division is led by Captain Harry Thomas. |
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IN AN EMERGENCY
DIAL 911 |
FOR NON-EMERGENCY CALLS
(517) 437-7317
FAX (517) 437-0822 |
HILLSDALE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE
165 W. FAYETTE STREET
HILLSDALE, MI 49242
(800) 437-7317 |
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"To
protect and serve our community by maintaining a
high standard of honor and integrity through
professional service."
© 2009 The Hillsdale County
Sheriff's Office / County of Hillsdale,
Michigan
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