This is another great story on police getting a chance to serve their community. http://www.officer.com/web/online/Top-News-Stories/Calif-Dept-Uses-Rescued-Horses-for-Patrol/1$50557
The police departments in our country have used horses for years for crowd control and their ability to navigate terrain a car wouldn't be able to. Unfortunately, budget concerns have led to cuts in many police department's mounted divisions.
Folsom, California's Mounted Patrol unit has been lucky enough to get the children in their community involved and caring about the importance of police work. Officers in this community have worked with The Grace Foundation to build an outreach program to the community.
According to The Grace Foundation's Beth DeCaprio, the program has been a success because the community's children have gained understanding in why police do what they do. She says that kids with parents in jail are gaining understanding in why the police had to arrest them.
Most importantly, the program is seen as an investment in the police department's future. The officers are using the abused horses as an example that anyone can work towards their dreams and goals no matter how bad their lives have been. After the horses can no longer help the officers, they're used as therapy horses to help the children.
It's a win-win situation: the police get horses and continued funding from the charity and The Grace Foundation is able to help children out by using therapy horses.
Monday, February 8, 2010
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