Sheriff's Office

Mounted Unit

The mission of the Kent County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit is to patrol designated areas on horseback, enforce laws, perform crowd control to maintain public safety, conduct search and rescue missions, and increase community policing effectiveness through high visibility.


Our Story

In 2003, Millennium Park in Walker opened. Sheriff Stelma (retired) felt a mounted unit would be a very effective method of policing the 1,400 acres of less accessible areas, which included natural areas, remote trails, lakes, and streams. In 2005, Sheriff Stelma proposed creating a mounted unit to the Kent County Sheriff's Office Traffic Squad. During the two-year project, the KCSO Traffic Squad met with and interviewed mounted units nationwide to discuss the ideal breed, age, and gender of mounted unit horses, preferred saddles and tack, and facility ideas.

In 2007, the Kent County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit was created.

Our Facility

The Mounted Unit's first facility was at the Kent County Sheriff's Office Honor Camp, a facility for the Kent County Correctional Facility's non-violent offenders. Housing the horses at the facility provided work opportunities for the inmates.

After the Honor Camp closed in 2011, the KCSO identified a future facility site in Rockford. A private family donated 31 acres to the Kent County Parks Department, which granted the land to the KCSO, intending to make the property accessible to the public.

The 20,000-square-foot indoor training center comprises 11 stalls, a locker room, a classroom, and an indoor riding arena. The arena is used by local 4-H groups and middle and high school riding teams and provides recreational riding opportunities for persons with special needs. The entire facility was constructed without taxpayer money through donations and sponsorships.

Back to Top

The Horses  Click on a horse's picture to learn more about them!

Gatsby

Gatsby

Gelding

BREED  1/4 Percheron & 3/4 Thoroughbred
COLOR  Bay
DISTINGUISHING MARKS  Folded ear, star on forehead
HEIGHT  16 hands
WEIGHT  1,174 lbs

FUN FACT  The tip of one of Gatsby's ears is crooked due to frostbite he sustained as a foal in Canada.

Hondo

Hondo

Gelding

FOALED  April 20, 2013
BREED  1/2 Percheron & 1/2 Quarter horse
COLOR  Dapple Gray
DISTINGUISHING MARKS  Three white socks
HEIGHT  16 hands
WEIGHT  1,174 lbs

FUN FACTS  Hondo and his rider, Melissa Burr, took 4th place in equitation during the 37th Annual National Mounted Police Colloquium in Lexington, KY. He and his rider Nate Fynewever also took 5th place in individual obstacles and 7th overall combined during the 36th Annual National Mounted Police Colloquium in Lexington, KY.

Hugo

Hugo

Gelding

FOALED  May 1, 2013
BREED  1/2 Percheron & 1/2 Thoroughbred
COLOR  Bay
DISTINGUISHING MARKS  Star on forehead
HEIGHT  16-1
WEIGHT  1,277 lbs

Liberty

Liberty

Gelding

FOALED  May 23, 2018
BREED  1/2 Percheron & 1/2 Thoroughbred
COLOR  Bay

FUN FACTS  Liberty and his rider, Emily Gerke, took 1st place in equitation during the 37th Annual National Mounted Police Colloquium in Lexington, KY. He was purchased in May 2022 from Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, and was trained by Jessica Maggi under the supervision of trainer Jesse Westfall.


Lincoln

Lincoln

Gelding

FOALED  June 2, 2018
BREED  1/2 Percheron & 1/2 Thoroughbred
COLOR  Reddish Bay
DISTINGUISHING MARKS  Star on forehead, LH white fetlock with ermine spots

FUN FACTS  Lincoln was purchased in May 2022 from Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. He was trained by Kimry (Cannon) Vazquez under the supervision of trainer Jesse Westfall.

Jess

Jess

Gelding

FOALED  January 1, 2014
BREED  Percheron
COLOR  Black
DISTINGUISHING MARKS  Star on face

FUN FACTS  Jess' real name is Jessabelle. He was purchased in February 2023 from Louisville Metro Mounted Police. His brother, Sonny, still works with Louisville Metro PD.

Maximus

Maximus

Gelding

FOALED  May 11, 2019
BREED  Clydesdale / Thoroughbred
COLOR  Sorrel
DISTINGUISHING MARKS  Blaze with white lower lip
HEIGHT  16-2

FUN FACTS  Maximus was purchased in May 2023 from Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. He was trained by Denae Jetter and Shelby Chapman under the supervision of trainer Jesse Westfall.

Maccabee

Maccabee

Gelding

FOALED  May 30, 2019
BREED  Clydesdale / Thoroughbred
COLOR  Bay
DISTINGUISHING MARKS  Star on face, connected strip, small snip, white lower lip
HEIGHT  16-3

FUN FACTS  Maccabee was purchased May 2023 from Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. He was trained by Lizzy Nicosia and Emma Ingalls under the supervision of trainer Jesse Westfall.

  • Retired Horses

    Jesse

    Angus

    Bo

    RJ

    Rojo

    Dewey

    Clancy
     
  • Fallen Heroes

    Hank

    Hank passed away from Potomac Horse Fever on August 20, 2022. We will forever remember “Hank the Tank” as a gentle giant with a distinguished “L” on his forehead. He was incredible with kids and undeniably a unit favorite.

    Hank was with the unit for five years and came to us from Asbury University in Willmore, Kentucky. He was an 8.5-year-old Percheron/Thoroughbred cross gelding.

Back to Top

The Officers

Traffic Squad Captain Don DeGroot

Sergeant Bryan Clark

Sergeant Randy Haverkamp

Sergeant Joy Matthews - Mounted Unit Commander

Traffic Squad Deputy Maurizio Arcidiacono

Sergeant Brian Brinks

Deputy Charles Bush

Traffic Squad Deputy Steve DeMan

Officer Thomas Doyle

Traffic Squad Deputy Mike Foote

Deputy Tanner Frederick

Deputy Emily Gerke

Deputy Melissa Burr

Deputy Lilian Grusnis

Traffic Squad Lieutenant Ron Hall

Traffic Squad Deputy Ryan Hardy

Sergeant Kathy King

Officer Kelly Momber

Deputy Michelle Racine

Officer Kaylyn Stephens

Officer Ashlee Triyonis

Deputy Celesta Vanderveen

Traffic Squad Deputy Tim Zeitter

Back to Top

Donate

NEW

2024 Mounted Unit Calendar

The 2024 Mounted Unit calendar is now available for purchase for $20.

Stop by any of our KCSO locations to purchase or contact Sgt. Joy Matthews at joy.matthews@kentcountymi.gov.

As always, thank you for support!

Challenge Coins

You can also purchase one of our challenge coins for $20.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office partially funds the KCSO Mounted Unit and its facility, but most funding comes from fundraising and donations. Your donations will assist with purchasing riding gear, facility equipment, feed for the horses, veterinary needs, and more - all of which will help the mounted unit with the continuation of law enforcement duties and community-relation activities, such as parades, park and pets, and educational programs at the Equestrian Center. We are lucky to have an amazing community that has supplemented our needs! No amount is too small.

Send Donations Via Check or Square

Send & make checks payable to

Kent County Traffic Squad Community Action Fund
701 Ball Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Please note on the check that the donation is for the Mounted Unit

Donate Via Square »

Back to Top

NEW!

Request the Presence of the Mounted Unit at Your Event

Whether it's a community festival, parade, or charity event, having the mounted unit at your event can enhance security, provide crowd control, and create a positive and interactive experience for attendees. The officers and their horses are not only skilled in their duties but also serve as ambassadors, engaging with the community and fostering a sense of unity.

Fill Out Request Form