Mounted Unit / Sheriff's Mounted Posse

In addition to being a "crowd favorite," BSO's Mounted Unit and Sheriff's Mounted Posse serve as an effective means of establishing a police presence in highly congested areas.

Mounted Unit

Deputies on horseback still have an important place in many law enforcement agencies; frequently, a mounted deputy can access areas where traditional police vehicles cannot due to space limitations or congestion. BSO continues the tradition of deputies on horseback with its Mounted Unit.

BSO's Mounted Unit is a part-time unit, available upon request, to assist when mounted services are needed. All mounted certified deputies are assigned to road patrol districts and other specialized units throughout the agency. On an "as needed" basis, deputies assigned to this unit handle mounted patrol assignments and support special initiatives throughout the county that call for a mounted deputy. BSO's Mounted Unit has been used for a variety of community policing functions, to include recovery of prisoner escapees, and the location of lost children and other individuals. In addition, deputies on horseback provide a unique presence at community and special events, in parades and at ceremonial/honor guard occasions. The unit also assists neighboring agencies and municipalities upon request.

Unit personnel must be certified and routinely train and work with other mounted units within Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Along with equine desensitizing drills and obstacle courses, emphasis is placed on crowd control exercises and pedestrian management. The Mounted Unit is also part of the Field Forces Unit and responds to any civil disturbance or major emergency when directed by the Sheriff.

Sheriff's Mounted Posse

To assist in situations requiring the expertise of trained horse riders, the Broward County Sheriff's Office recently formed a Sheriff's Mounted Posse Unit to function as an integrated support unit for BSO's Mounted Unit. The Mounted Posse, comprised of volunteers who have their own horses and transportation, participate in special events, career days and parades throughout Broward County. When BSO's Mounted Unit is requested for anything other than enforcement activities, Mounted Posse members accompany them while on patrol in neighborhoods, parks and parking lots, and may be called upon to assist with searches in areas that vehicles cannot access. They are also used to respond to, and assist with, loose livestock calls for service. The Mounted Posse members serve as additional eyes and ears while riding with the Deputies and provide a larger mounted presence to events or functions.

Mounted Posse members receive specialized training in areas such as Horsemanship, CPR and First Aid, and attend the Broward Citizens Academy. Currently, the Broward County Sheriff's Office Mounted Posse has over 40 members and is rapidly expanding.

If you would like more information on becoming a member of the Sheriff's Mounted Posse, please contact Sergeant Daniel Marks at (954) 831-8221 or daniel_marks@sheriff.org.

Download the application for the Sheriff's Mounted Posse program, the Hold Harmless Agreement and the Non-Employee Photo ID Request form. These are PDF files and require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Upon completing the forms, please contact Sergeant Marks to submit the documentation. Applicants should include a photocopy of their driver's license or other identification with their application.

Specialized Units Main Page

Child Protective Investigations Section

Contractor Licensing and Fraud Unit

Crime Scene

Crime Lab

Crime Stoppers Unit

Criminal Investigations Division

Dive Team