County Executive Thomas P. Gordon cordially invites the public to the New Castle County Police Mounted Patrol graduation that will see young Clydesdales Warden and Wrangler officially become police horses at 1 p.m. Thursday at Carousel Park & Equestrian Center.
Five police officers will also graduate after rigorous training – Officers Richard Shughart, Roosevelt Lockett, Alexis Annone, Corey Nicholson and Scott Crum. They are riding Clydesdales Warden, Wrangler, Spartan, Titan and Diesel. The senior officers in the unit participating will be Sgt. James Henasey (the unit commander), M/Cpl. William Brown, M/Cpl. Jose Baerga, S/Cpl. Erich Selhorst and Ofc. Maura Schultz along with veteran horses Elvis, Darby, Buddy, and Tonka. Selhorst will narrate the riding program.
The 1 p.m. Thursday ceremony will be held in the indoor arena near the main office of Carousel Park, 3700 Limestone Road, Wilmington DE 19808. Admission is free.
“It’s hard to believe it’s already been nearly three years since I purchased Warden and Wrangler, two Clydesdale colts, to train and become police horses,” Gordon said. “I am so proud of these two horses that have gone from two mischievous, inquisitive little animals the size of dogs to two huge horses that have proven they can do the job as police horses.
“I also want to commend the new officers graduating after weeks of intensive training that have elevated their skills as police officers,” he said. “Remember that the work you do is important, whether it’s traffic duty or any of the other duties you’ll be assigned.”
During Warden and Wrangler’s introduction to the public in November 2013, New Castle County Police Chief Col. Elmer M. Setting thanked Gordon for purchasing the two horses with the goal of developing them to replenish the Mounted Patrol. Clydesdales make for great police horses given their good disposition with people and their imposing and intimidating size, he said.
All the new members of the Mounted Patrol, including Warden and Wrangler, will receive their badges from Colonel Setting, the first NCCPD chief to ever serve on the Mounted Patrol.
“I want to thank County Executive Gordon and Public Safety Director Joe Bryant for their never ending supporting for police as a whole,” Setting said. “I also thank my chain of command, from Major Vaughn Bond to Captain Robert McLucas, Lt. Jason Atallian and Sgt. Henasey for ensuring the Mounted Patrol remains a strong and vital part of our police force. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention recently retired Sgt. Mary Devine, who stood in the same shoes as Sgt. Henasey and contributed to the effort to train new officers and horses for the Mounted Patrol.”
Warden and Wrangler’s pending Mounted Patrol graduation were recently featured on NCCTV’s People’s Parks 5 Clydesale Colts, a sidebar of Spotlight on New Castle County with Melody Kitchen. Warden is the light bay horse and Wrangler is the dark bay horse. You can view this show at www.YouTube.com/NCCDE.
Other NCCTV shows chronicling their development include:
County Executive Gordon introduces new foals, November 2013
Clydesdales of NCC, July 2014
Spotlight 44 Clydesdale Colts, September 2015
People’s Parks 1 Clydesdale Colts, April 2016
WHO New Castle County Police
WHAT Mounted Patrol Graduation
WHEN 1 p.m. Thursday, July 14
WHERE Carousel Park & Equestrian Center, 3700 Limestone Road, Wilmington DE 19808 (Route 7 just north of Kirkwood Highway)
COST Free
-30-