Report to the Niagara Regional Police Services Board
- Mounted Officers in the Colour Guard -
Initial Proposal to the Niagara Regional Police Services Board

The following text contains the contents of the initial proposal to Niagara Regional Police's (NRP) Police Service Board (PSB) to allow mounted officers to be a part of the NRP.

This proposal was submitted on April 2, 2003.

INTRODUCTION
The NRPS Colour Guard will be enhanced with the addition of two mounted police officers, Constables Paul Lewis and Ronald Derksen. Both officers are experienced riders who have invested years of research and training into mounted police concepts, including training with the RCMP's Musical Ride.

The addition of the horses to the Colour Guard is at no cost, as the officers have trained on their own time and are using carefully prepared, officer-owned horses. The officers will wear issued police uniforms and equipment.
The horses used will be mature quarter horses that have been prepared by the officers using various established techniques. The animals have previous experience in parades with crowds and traffic-intense environments.

The mounted element of the Colour Guard will appear at functions at the discretion of executive staff. Suitable events include parades and festivals, and other such events where a mounted police presence will be suitable, desirable, and effective.

A Synopsis of the Original Concept
In January of 2001, ideas on the merit of a mounted police presence in the Niagara Region were exchanged between Senior Constables Paul Lewis and Ron Derksen, who are both avid horsemen.

The officers believed that the Niagara Region is the perfect venue to combine their enthusiasm and knowledge of horses with their profession as police officers. They further recognized that the Niagara Regional Police Service has always prided itself in diversity. The Service would benefit from this innovative, new idea that would both enhance our public image and help to address the proven need for increased police visibility.

With a peninsula full of tourist attractions, parks, and an ever-growing list of festivals and parades, the Niagara Region and the Police Service would benefit immensely from a mounted police presence.

Researching the Subject
Before presenting their ideas, the officers initiated a six-month study into the mounted police subject. On their own time, the officers made contact with mounted police administrators and trainers throughout Canada and the U.S., and were able to compile a large amount of information on the formation, training, and maintenance of police horses.

On their days off, the officers made an full-day visit to the Toronto Police Mounted Unit, where they were warmly hosted by the staff. They were shown every facet of the Toronto facility, and had lengthy discussions with the officers about equipment, training, and the maintenance of police horses.

To further his own skills, Constable Derksen successfully completed Level 2 of the National Police Horse Academy's prescribed discipline of Natural Horsemanship. Constable Lewis is currently completing his Level 1 training. The officers continue to engage in this training on their days off.

After compiling and considering the information that they had collected, the officers were convinced that a mounted police presence in the Niagara Region was a feasible, attainable, and most importantly, desirable goal for our Service.

Enhancing the NRPS Colour Guard
In the months following the research, Constable Derksen had discussions with Sergeant Wayne Genders, the officer in charge of the Niagara Regional Police Colour Guard.

They explored the merit of adding a mounted element to the existing Colour Guard. Mounted officers could provide an effective extension to the already established unit - an entity that does not burden the Service with added costs. Sergeant Genders recognized the validity of this, and confirmed that there are many functions and ceremonies where mounted officers would dramatically augment the Colour Guard.

This endevour would entail no additional cost to the Service as the officers would be working under the current Colour Guard's existing procedures for deployment. Most importantly, it would add an exciting and colourful aspect to police ceremonies and functions, while giving our Colour Guard an innovative, new look.

Training with the RCMP
In February 2003, Constable's Lewis and Derksen, while on leave and on their own time, attended the RCMP's coveted Mounted Police Seminar. This two-week course is offered once a year to officers from all over the world. It is conducted at the RCMP Musical Ride stables in Ottawa, and involves an intensive induction in the centuries-old RCMP method of riding and general horsemanship.

Constables Lewis and Derksen were able to benefit immensely from their one-on-one instruction from the best trainers in the field, getting firsthand the level of coaching normally limited to the elite riders of the Musical Ride. Riding up to three sessions per day, the class was instructed on all aspects of equitation skill, including such intense exercises as troop drills (cavalry formations) and jumping.

Having received instruction from some of the leaders in the field of good horsemanship, the officers were fortunate to profit from a rare and valuable source of knowledge and skill.

Conclusion
The addition of a mounted element to the NRPS Colour Guard provides a traditional flavour to the NRPS' public image. The presence of smartly dressed mounted police officers has a dramatic effect on the crowds, and will create a lasting impression wherever the NRPS Colour Guard appears.

This is a time when the Service would benefit greatly from a bold, new attempt to add another positive dimension to it's public image. It should embrace any opportunity to showcase itself in a fresh and positive light.
The Colour Guard has been the ambassador of our Service for many years - adding a mounted element will elevate the symbolization of the Niagara Regional Police Service to an exciting, new level.