The San Francisco Police Department welcomed three new horses into its ranks at a swearing-in ceremony Thursday at the Golden Gate Park stables.
The horses — Sutro, Cinco, and Ozzie — accepted oaths of office and were fashioned with official badges as the newest members of SFPD’s Mounted Patrol Unit.
“As we’re stepping into the 152nd year of the Mounted unit, the people and the horses remain strong and committed to continuing an important role to protect public safety and build a relationship within the community,” said Deputy Chief of Special Operations Jason Sawyer in a speech.
Sawyer read the speech on behalf of Chief Derrick Lew, who was unable to attend the ceremony.
SFPD’s Mounted Unit was established in 1874, making it the second-oldest unit in the country. The horses can be seen patrolling areas such as Marina Green, the Palace of Fine Arts, China Basin, McLaren Park, Golden Gate Park, Castro Street, Union Square, and Japantown.
Sutro, who is almost 20 years old, has a white coat covered in freckles. He is the newest member of the unit and participated in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“Sutro is a spry older gentleman,” said Acting Capt. Matt Mason in a speech. “Sutro is a quick learner and likes to keep his caregivers on their toes. He learned how to unlatch gates within a day of being here, letting himself out to go meet the new neighbors.”
Cinco is a towering white horse aged 16 years. He used to participate in competitions as a show jumper.
Ozzie, born in 2014, has a brown coat and has been at the stable for a couple years.
His handler, Officer Tim Yee, said that horses must pass training and go through acclimation to the city environment in order to be sworn in.
“For a city horse, it’s very different because in the country, they’re out in the pasture and working on a ranch,” Yee said in an interview. “You have to think about stuff like the Muni buses, school buses, electrical lines, railroad tracks, grates … They have to be acclimated to having a bunch of people come up to them.”
One reason that SFPD has mounted patrols is for officers to get a better view of crowds.
“Their height offers a clearer view in the crowded areas,” Sawyer said. “But their duties are more than just keeping us safe. Over the decades, the Mounted Unit officers and horses have created unforgettable moments for anyone who has interacted with them.”
The horses also serve as a way for officers to connect with community members, acting as a mechanism to build public relations.
“If you put a patrol car on the corner or an officer and a horse on the corner, 10 out of 10, people are going to go to the horse,” Yee said.
The three horses posed for pictures with attendees, showing off their shiny new badges and happily accepting carrots as treats.