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Home My WebLink AboutIR 8956I iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiji 11111111111111111: 111,111� 1111111 � I � I I 11�10i: i� 111M=E Pa-,cge 1 of 4 Role of the Mounted Support Group Business owners and citizens encouraged an expansion of mounted patrols. In 1987, Chief Thomas Windham met with business leaders and challenged them to create a support group. Consequently, the Citizens Support Group for the Mounted Patrol was organized. This organization undertook the effort to provide horses, equipment and services for the expanded mounted patrol unit. Ownership and Funding • Horses Under an informal arrangement, the Citizenj SyJQJ G j te A _j for t r Nrl IN # 0 0 0 1 W11 I Staffing and Expenses Associated with the Mounted Unit The Mounted Patrol Unit has fourteen auth 'z trainer, Currently, there is one officer vacancy and one officer • loan to the Narcotics Section, The unit's adopted budget for fiscal year 2007-2008 is $1,062,200. The budget allocates $42,288 for the medical care and horseshoe service for the horses. Current Facility "Che Mounted Patrol faciffity is located at 250-1 N . Houston near the Stockyards. the faci14 consists of one small office, eighteen stalls, one training arena, one round pen, one walker, and storage areas for feed, tack and supplies. The main facility is approximately twenty years-old, ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS To the Mayor and Members of the City Council SUBJECT: Mounted Patrol Unit No. 8956 June 17, 2008 Pa e 2 of 4 Role of Horse Trainer The Horse Trainer assigned to the Mounted Patrol trains horses to perform a variety of functions in support of the unit, cares for horses, maintains their living quarters, and performs a variety of tasks and responsibilities relative to unit. The Horse Trainer (trainer) is subject to 24 -hour emergency call back. Chief Windham granted take-home vehicle privileges and permitted the trainer to use his private property for training, treating injuries, and turning -out horses. This informal arrangement was maintained through March 21, 2008. Need to Find a Turn -Out Facility On March 11, 2008, a fuel usage audit was conducted within the Operational Support Bureau in an effort to control fuel costs department -wide. Based on findings of this audit, Interim Chief P. J. Kneblick withdrew full take -home vehicle privileges for the trainer, but granted limited city take -home vehicle usage for work - related purposes with the approval of the sergeant. This action necessitated the return of three of the Mounted Patrol horses that were being pastured at the trainer's property under the informal arrangement. The mounted horses being kept on the trainer's private property were returned to the mounted bam, which only has eighteen stalls. However, with the return of the horses, nineteen horses required stalls. Sergeant Robinson made arrangements for one horse to be stalled with the Fort Worth Herd until other arrangements could be made. The need to locate a turn -out pasture for the horses was recommended by the veterinarian, the trainer, and the Support Group. Captain Jones and Sergeant Robinson discussed the use of city property to tum -out horses; however, this idea was not feasible due to the need for shelter, fenced pasture, and continuous monitoring of horses. Selection of Wills Ranch On March 21, 2008, Sergeant Robinson obtained bids from three area stables. He inspected the stables and requested the services of Wills Ranch due to the higher quality of fencing, stalls and pasture as compared to the other stables. The schedule for care and feeding of horses at Wills Ranch was a morning feeding of hay and oats along with water at 7 :30 a.m. The horses would be turned -out in the pasture, weather permitting, with other horses at 9:00 a.m. The turn- out pasture contained a self- filling water trough. At 4:00 p.m., the horses would be returned to their stalls to be fed oats and hay and given water. At 8:00 p.m., a final check on the horses would be made and water buckets topped off. Stalls would be cleaned daily with shavings replaced every two weeks. On April 1, 2008, Sergeant Robinson submitted a purchase authorization form that after review by the chain of command, the Law Department and with input from the veterinarian was approved. Sergeant Robinson received the approved purchasing form on May 12, 2008. He did not immediately deliver horses to Wills Ranch due to the need to verify the method of payment. Monitoring of Horses / Docw*nting Injuries / Removal from Wills Ranch On May 16, 2008, Sergeant Robinson and Mounted Officer J. D. Johnson delivered three horses (Sang, Dollar, and Deen) to Wills Ranch. Daily inspections of the three horses pastured at Wills Ranch were conducted by mounted personnel every day between May 16", to June 2nd with the exception of May 21st . ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS To the Mayor and Members of the City Council! SUBJECT: Mounted Patrol Unit No. 8956 June 17, 2008 Paae 3 of 4 ■ May 17 thru May 20 or 21- Mounted horses remained in a barren section of the pasture near the entry gate without interacting with other horses. • May 22 - Sergeant Robinson began noticing minor bite marks, minor broken skin, and small cuts on all horses. He suspected these injuries were the result of °pecking order" activity. ■ May 23 - the trainer examined the injuries reported on May 22. ■ May 28 — the trainer reported that two horses appeared to have lost weight and had increased fly bites. Sergeant Robinson provided fly spray to Officer Scott to apply. Sergeant Robinson emailed Captain Jones about the need to increase feed and install fans. ■ May 29 — Captain Jones and Sergeant Robinson met with department fiscal staff to determine the appropriate method to provide fans and additional feed. ■ May 30 — Sergeant Robinson and Captain Jones spoke with Wills Ranch manager Danny Cook about increasing feed. An agreement was arranged to increase feed levels and provide supplements; Mr. Cook stated he would speak with Wills Ranch owner Betty Wills about placing horses in the larger, cooler stalls. ■ May 31— observed new injuries and empty water buckets. Officer Scott filled the water buckets and called Sergeant Robinson to report her findings. The trainer inspected horses and observed and treated injuries. ■ June 1 — Officer Scott inspected horses and empty water buckets. Officer Scott filled the water buckets and contacted Sergeant Robinson. At approximately 8:30 p.m., the trainer inspected horses and observed and treated injuries. The trainer called Sergeant Robinson and reported observing additional injuries and requested he contact Captain Jones to recommend their return to the mounted bam. Sergeant Robinson called Captain Jones and reported Officer Scott's and the trainer's findings and recommended the return of all three mounted horses to the mounted barn. Captain Jones authorized their return. ■ June 2 — At approximately 7:30 a.m., Officer Scott met with staff at Wills Ranch and instructed them to keep mounted horses stalled for pick -up. Sergeant Robinson and Officer Johnson returned all horses to the mounted bam. On June 2, 2008, the veterinarian examined the injured horses. He estimated their weight loss to be between 100 to 150 pounds per house. He also prescribed hydrotherapy and topical ointments for wounds and recommended an increased diet for weight gain. The trainer began the prescribed treatment immediately. On June 3, the Citizens Support Group for the Mounted Patrol took possession of the three injured horses, and an additional hose, being housed at the mounted bam. Prelitninary Investigation Into Treatment of Mounted Horses at Wills Ranch On June 5, 2008, Captain Joules and Sergeant Robinson met with Wills Ranch owner Betty Wills, Chrissie Wills 'ownees doter) and Mr. Cods. Betty Wills agreed that all three mounted hors had wounds that were sustained whie horsed at Wks Rauch. Site attribute them to peckmg order acuity. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS x I 1 0 Betty Wills showed Captain Jones and Sergeant Robinson the oats used for horse feed. Captain Jones related the empty water buckets in two stalls seen by the officer at approximately 8:00 pm. on May 31 and June 1, 2008. Mr. Cook explained that the staff member responsible for the 8:00 p.m. watering begins this process in another barn and completes this task in the barn used to house the mounted patrol horses. This process often takes up to 45 minutes to complete. No evidence was found in the preliminary investigation into the treatment of mounted horses housed at Wills Ranch indicating their abuse or neglect by ranch staff. Future Arrangements The three horses involved in this incident are the only ones who are scheduled to rotate out of duty. The fourth horse moved by the Support Group was being trained and not subject to turnout. The remaining fifteen horses at the Mounted Patrol Barn are scheduled to be working during the next few months, This allows time for the Police De artment to consider all options for a turnout facilitv. Police staff tas sci,,,eduled a meeti-to wNt Yt-p—CitizPass-1Z .1 Mo ........ .. As an alternative, we are examining whether compensation can be built into the horse trainer's salary to permit the 1poaLl i 77-7 Tor me-ir a7g care ounng Tneir 777- d u by h ou r s. For farther questions, please feel free to contwct Interim Police Chief Pat Kneblick at 817-3924211, ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER _ FORT WORTH, TEXAS