Florence officers mount up to patrol trails
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Florence Mounted Patrol
Florence Mounted Patrol
Rebecca J. Ducker/MORNING NEWS
Magnum, an Appendix Quarter Horse belonging to Florence Police Cpl. Ginny Rishkofski-Howle, stands during a press conference announcing the addition of the mounted unit to the police department Wednesday in Florence.
FLORENCE — Plenty of law enforcement agencies have canines on the force. But the Florence Police Department now has two horses, which makes them special, because a horse is a horse, of course.
The two newest additions, Magnum and Star, pranced around the Florence Rail Trail on Wednesday during their first day at work and became familiar with their new stomping grounds.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT
See the trail system that Magnum, Star and their officers will patrol, click here.
But this is no dog-and-pony show. The two horses and their riders have some real work to do, Florence Police Chief Anson Shells said.
The department created a mounted patrol as a way to increase police presence on the rail trail, he said.
“We see how busy the trail system has become. You can come out here any weekend and see how many people (are there),” Shells said. “We use ATVs, scooters and our golf carts, but there are areas of the trail that are difficult to access with that equipment.”
Then Cpl. Ginny Rishkofski-Howle and Lt. Sam Toney, who own Magnum and Star, respectively, came to the chief with the idea to use their horses for patrol work.
“(Ginny) came to me. She had patrolled the trail on the other vehicles and we recognized the benefit,” Shells said. “I thought it was a great idea.”
The mounted patrol will be used for the trail, festivals and for search and rescue operations, he said.
“Horses are really good for crowd control — probably the best option there is,” said Shells, who worked as a police officer for the city of Columbia, which has a mounted patrol.
Magnum, a thoroughbred-quarter horse mix, is well suited for the job, Rishkofski-Howle said.
“Nothing bothers him. I could shoot a gun off his back ... he can stand in front of a patrol car with the light flashing full force,” she said. “He is ideal for this type of work.”
Star, a Tennessee Walker cross breed, also is calm, Toney said.
“She’s good with kids,” he said.
Both horses received about six weeks of special law enforcement training before they joined the department.
Toney, who has owned Star for three years, said even though his horse is friendly, he’ll be the only one allowed to ride her.
“It’s just not good to let a bunch of people ride a horse,” he said. “It’s just like driving a car. Everybody drives different.”
“A horse is an animal and it can get confused,” Rishkofski-Howle said. “It’s just like a dog. It’s a dog and its handler and it’s a horse and its rider. We’re a team.”
The mounted patrol will be a normal presence on the trail in about two weeks. The two officers will take turns patrolling the trail, Shells said.
— Staff writer Jamie Rogers can be reached at (843) 317-7266.
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Reader Reactions
Yeah, sometimes Lisa does get to be a little much, but she is really dead on. I read and commented on an article about a week ago and they added a couple of electric cars. Now there are two horses in this article. What I didn’t see an article on is the Expedition EX that I have seen rolling around town with FPD on the side. You can only complain so much. Now it is just sad. They should not be allowed to have these perks until they really get real problems solved in the city. I ridiculed the tea baggers but I am really starting to side with them. Wasteful government spending right here in lil ole Florence.
“...especially when its not cost the city anything but a small amount of money for the training.“
Well, there’s the insurance…tack & harness…special uniforms…special vehicles…feed…pay for the officers who won’t be doing other things…vet bills…did we forget anything else?
“Where is the rail trail and what is it?“
See the above response regarding insurance. The rail trail is part of a system that connects all the parks areas in Florence by foot-paths. They have a link to a map in the article. I wouldn’t walk some parts of it unless the police were on it with me at the same time. Anyone can access it, including the homeless, criminals, delinquents, you name it.
“...but I really think it is good idea to have it patroled.“
Absolutely. You’re right about the “murder scene” observation, but you also nailed it with the description of unsavory types being there, too. The trails are a definite asset, which need police coverage. But are horses really the best way to accomplish this?
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa…try not to destroy this thread with your inane blathering. It’ll only make them shut off the comments, and this really bears some public scrutiny. Speak your mind, but don’t waste this opportunity for others, please!
I really wish the Florence Police Department and “Kenney Boone and the Apple Dumpling Gang” would quit horsing around!
Thank you for police offcers that are willing to give back to to city of Florence. We as civilians alot of times don’t see the public as well as the trained eyes of our police offcers, who for our safety patrol the streets and trails when we are kick back at home (safe), watching TV. Thank you and May God watch over you & protect you..
DR
My understanding of the article is that these horses belong to two of the Florence Police officers. I think its a great idea to add these horses to the force especially when its not cost the city anything but a small amount of money for the training. The rail trail is utilized alot by the citizens and is a great asset to the City of Florence. I would like to say thank you to the two officers for allowing the city you utilize their horses to keep Florence safe…
The Rail Trail runs right behind my house, it does not take you near murder scenes (at least not the part where we are.) If you walk the entire thing it takes you out behind the civic center and I suppose you could see a homeless person around there somewhere but I walk it often and have never seen “a murder scene” or a homeless person. I don’t know where you are walking but I really think it is good idea to have it patroled. There are lots of kids going down there on the weekend doing drugs and what not. Horses are a good asset to the rail trail and the rail trail is a good asset to Florence.
The rail trail is a useless waste of money that has overgrown bushes and trash all over it. It takes you near some of the murder scenes of recent times here in Florence. It also takes you past a few homeless people.
I am glad the Police decide to waste more money on this project.
The horses are fine since they are ecologically friendly no gas, oil repairs or insurance. Where is the rail trail and what is it?
Wow! Anson Shells needs to get his priority straight!
1 - Find Serial Killer that nobody talks about anymore.
2 - Get horses to patrol Florence
I’d like to see them telling someone to clean up after their dog on the trail when we all know what kind of mess horses will leave behind. Will horse diapers be involved, or will someone be following along on the golf cart with a shovel and a receptacle of some sort? Here again, bicycles don’t eat tons of grain & hay in a year’s time. Or require special insurance for when they kick people in the face, not to mention leaving behind huge piles of waste. What of the fiscal impact this is likely to have on their budget? Other departments are considering cutting thier equestrian & K9 sections in this economy:
http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=100052858
Seems the Chief needs to keep up to speed on what’s going on in his OLD stomping grounds, and put the taxpayer’s money here to better use. Where are ANY of the 18 new officers that were being discussed around election time, or just after Gerrie Scott’s murder?
“But this is no dog and pony show.“
Could have fooled me.
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