Vallejo Police Department's Mounted Unit

*Welcome to the Unofficial* *Vallejo Police Department's Mounted Unit web site* Click on any picture for enlargement
The Vallejo Police Department's Mounted Unit Color Guard. The Color Guard won "Reserve Champion" at the 1998 CSHA Color Guard Competition held annually on the opening day of the Grand Nationals Rodeo at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, Ca

*The Vallejo Police Department's Mounted Unit* from left to right: Sergeant Howard Mason on "Sgt. Decker", Officer Rick Wizner on "Tagg", Detective Lloyd Douglas on "Copper", Lieutenant Ron Jackson on "Kody", Officer Brett Liddicoet on "Patrone", Officer Ana Menjivar on "Mia" and Officer Nate Ketchum on "Zeus".

Sgt. Mason, Lt. Jackson, Officer Wizner, and Officer Ketchum are ready to handle a large crowd at the 1998 Dixon May Fair. We were assigned to perform crowd control functions at the Clint Black concert attended by 8,000 fairgoers. Sgt. Decker and Lt. Kody are sporting the latest fashion in equine face shields.

The Vallejo Police Mounted Unit host a training day on Mare Island. Joining us are Oakland Police Mounted Unit and Solano County Mounted Posse members. We use the five foot diameter ball to teach horses to push with their chest and steer the ball in. This is all part of crowd control training.

Vallejo Police Lt. Tony Pearsall joins the Mounted Honor Guard at the 1998 California Peace Officer's Memorial at the Sacramento Capitol grounds. Joining Vallejo PD were mounts from the California Highway Patrol, San Francisco Police Dept. and the Sacramento Police Dept.

*Sgt. Mason and Officer Douglas take a break from the patrol duties during the 1998 "Holiday Patrol Program." The children absolutely loved our Santa hats.*

This is "Skye". He is Sergeant Mason's reserve police horse. His son, "Shaun" and his wife, "Melodi" take turns keeping him in shape. Skye is a 8 year old BLM Mustang who has been with our family for 4 years. He has been assigned to several official duties such as the Solano County Fair and the California State Fair. He is very patient and loves kids. He is becoming a fine Police Horse.

*ABOUT THE UNIT:* The Vallejo Police Dept. Mounted Unit was started in September of 1995 and is a collateral duty unit. Since our debut the unit has logged close to 5,000 on duty hours in the saddle. Each officer owns his or her mount and has agreed to rent his mount to the Police Department whenever the unit receives an assignment. Each officer is responsible for transporting his /her mount to the assigned site. While on assignment each officer is responsible for the horse's feeding, watering, grooming and first aid. Additionally, each mount must be kept up to date with vaccinations, worming, and shoeing. Many of the mounts are equipped with special rubber coated horseshoes which allow for greater traction and comfort on hard surfaces. Lt. Jackson rides a 12 year old ex-race horse, Thoroughbred gelding named "Kody". Sgt. Mason rides a nine year old, golden buckskin Quarter Horse gelding, named "Sgt. Decker." Officer Wizner rides a 7 year old palamino Quarter Horse gelding named "Tagg." Detective Douglas rides a 9 year old Quarter Horse gelding named "Copper." Officer Ketchum rides a 15 year old Morgan gelding named "Zeus." Officer Liddicoet rides a 6 year old Morgan gelding named "Patrone." Officer Menjivar rides a 12 year old Quarter Horse mare named "Mia." Full time VPD officers, with 3 or more years experience, who wish to join the unit must successfully pass a Basic Assessment Test (B.A.T). The B.A.T. measures the equitation skills of both horse and rider as a team. If successful the horse and rider are sent to a 40 hour P.O.S.T. certified school prior to being deployed. Each officer is required to attend mounted enforcement training held once a month and pass an extensive, in-service test annually. Both Lt. Jackson and Sgt. Mason are P.O.S.T certified instructors. Our unit provides crowd control and security during the annual 4th of July festivities, Whale Boat Regatta, Jazz Festival, Solano County Fair, Juneteenth, Shopping Centers during the holidays and at the New Marine World Theme Park. In June of 1998, Sergeants Mason and "Decker" competed in 5 gymkhana events at the Police Summer Games . Together they brought home the silver medal in Pole Bending and a bronze medal in the Keyhole.