Mounted Patrol wins top awards at National Police Equestrian Championships

On October 12 through 15, 2017 members of the York County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol traveled to Devon, Pennsylvania for Mounted Police Training and to compete in the Mounted Police Equestrian Championships.  The 2017 Championships were hosted by the North American Police Equestrian Council and the Philadelphia Police Dept. The events took place at the Devon Horse Show Grounds.
 
In attendance were 65 total horses to compete with agencies from across the United States and Canada including agencies as far away as Alberta, Canada and also Toronto and Hamilton Ontario, Canada.
 
Master Deputy Mark McCarter and his horse Cochise placed first in the Western Division and first place overall for combined Equitation and Obstacle.  In addition McCarter and Cochise took second place in the Obstacle course and 3rd in the Expert Equitation out of 48. 
 
McCarter and Cochise also won the Brigadier Memorial Trophy.  This award is given in honor of Brigadier, a Toronto Police Horse that was killed in the line of Duty.  This coveted award is given to the rider who has the highest combined score in Expert Equitation and Obstacle Course. 
 
Equitation is the art or practice of horse riding or horsemanship. More specifically, equitation may refer to a rider's position while mounted and encompasses a rider's ability to ride correctly and with effective aids. In horse show competition, the rider, rather than the horse is evaluated.
 
Established in 2010, the York County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol’s mission is for search and rescue, crowd control and patrolling parking lots during festivals and other large events.  Affectionately nicknamed “The Sheriff’s Posse”, the patrol is made up of five deputies and their personal horses.

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

On Friday, November 24th, York County retail stores will be packed with people out hunting for a good bargain, but criminals may also be out hunting for easy targets.   There are several safety tips to help minimize your risk of becoming a victim of criminals and keep your holiday shopping experience fun and safe.

• Lock your car doors. At stores and at home. 
• Don’t leave packages visible through car windows. Lock them in the trunk or, if possible, take them directly home.
• Try to park close to the store and in well-lit areas. When walking through a parking lot keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not buy more than you can carry. Ask a store employee to help you carry your packages to the car.
• Shop with a friend. He or she can help carry packages and be a second pair of eyes for you walking to and from stores.
• Deter pickpockets.  Keep your purse closed and near to your body.  Also, carry wallets in your front pocket.
• Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. Check the back seat and around the car before getting in.
• It’s best to leave children at home. Small children could get knocked down by fast-moving adults or get separated from you.
• If you must shop with children, make a plan in case you get separated. Select a central meeting place and make sure they know they can ask mall personnel or store security employees if they need help.
• Make sure your phone is charged. Having your cell phone charged on Black Friday is important as you can easily get lost from your friends or you may just want to make plans to meet them somewhere else.
• Do not post your shopping trip on Social Media sites. Posting you will be away from your home for several hours could tell a “friend” or a “friend of a friend” they could pay your house an unwelcomed visit.