Meet the Richmond Mounted Squad
Richmonders and visitors alike have seen and admired the city's mounted officers for as long as they can remember. The Richmond Mounted Squad is the oldest police unit of its kind in the Commonwealth. As early as 1894, "outriders" patrolled the outskirts of the city. Over the years the Mounted Squad has changed in size, numbering as many as 35 horses in the 1940's. The Squad's stables have experienced many changes as well going from Hermitage Road, to the Virginia Military Armory basement, to it's present location on Brook Road. There is no denying that the men and women of the Mounted Squad play an important role in helping make Richmond a safe and pleasant place to live and work.
Circa 1950
Current Mounted Squad Activities
Photo
By EVA RUSSO TIMES-DISPATCH
The Officers
Sgt. Eric Bardon
Officer
in charge of the unit, with the city police since 1987 and with the
mounted unit since 1999.
His equine partner is S.S. Roadrunner.
Officer
-
Rich Fecht with the department since 1996 and
with the mounted unit since 1999. Rides a new warmblood cross named
Rio. (see attached link)
Officer - Rob C. Lehr with the department since 1988, and with the mounted unit since 1993. Rob is currently riding Nuke Street Beach (Nuke) while searching for a new horse to replace Tyco.
Officer - Jeff C. Napier with the department 24 years, with the mounted unit since 1996 (he came from the K9 unit). Jeff has started riding the new spotted Draft horse, Raleigh.
Officer
- They are currently interviewing to fill this
position.
The Horses
Nuke Street
Beach (Nuke)- A 15.2 hand, dark bay retired Standardbred
racehorse, joined the mounted unit in 2001.
Rio - Joined
the
Mounted Squad in 2007. Is back to work and passing
every
test with flying colors! Officer Fecht wishes now that he was
his
mount at the police competition this past year.
June's
Lightning
- A retired Standardbred racehorse. He joined
the squad in 2007.
Raleigh
- A
new addition. He joined
the squad this year (2008). He is a 2004 Spotted Draft
gelding
(from Virginia Sport Horses) standing 17 hands. He is in
training
and was donated with funds raised by the "Friends". His extra
large tack was paid for by a grant from the Fan Women's Club.
S.S. Roadrunner (Roady) - A 15.2 hand, dark bay Standardbred retired racehorse. He's been with the squad since 2000.