Lorain County Sheriff's Office chooses first horse for new Mounted Unit

The Lorain County Sheriff's Office has chosen the first horse for its newly created Mounted Unit. It is the first horse to serve with the Sheriff's Office since the mid-20th century, when there was a volunteer posse of riders on duty. The horse doesn't have a name yet, but the Sheriff's Office said it "looks forward to sharing that announcement with the community in the near future." In a news release, the Sheriff's Office said the creation of the Mounted Unit, which is funded entirely with donations, would not have been possible without "the overwhelming support and generosity of our community members." "We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed donations and support to help bring this vision to life," the Sheriff's Office said in the news release. "Our mounted unit is a direct reflection of the strong partnership we share with our community, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated to make this possible," Sheriff Jack Hall said in the news release. "This horse will not only enhance our ability to ensure public safety at large events and in crowd management situations but it will also serve as a unique and approachable way for our deputies to connect with residents," Hall said. "It's an investment in both safety and community engagement." The Sheriff's Office said mounted units are effective for crowd control, search efforts and high-visibility patrol. Hall, who commanded a mounted unit when he was a captain with the Cleveland Metroparks Police Department, previously said he wanted to bring that idea to Lorain County if elected. "The elevated vantage point provided by a horse allows deputies to better assess situations, while the presence of a mounted unit often promotes calm and cooperation in large gatherings," according to the Sheriff's Office. "In addition, horses play a valuable role in community outreach by creating positive interactions, especially with children and families." A video accompanying the announcement can be found on the Sheriff's Office Facebook page.