EXPERT MOUNTED POLICE.

Evening Star, Issue 12606, 11 September 1905, Page 6

EXPERT MOUNTED POLICE.

AN KHfIUJUCSIT POttCS^ N«w York' is not the «nk Aznerican city that has reason to be proud of i»» mounted poticenten. Detract also .pcaseatßa a mounted polioe force that hauinmediiywjd tte experimental stage. So tnoanognlr hat the Detroit Police Deoattinent demonstrated tbs efficiency and vatac of nwanted officers that cities all over the West are beginning to seek imfonuawon from Detooit's Police OoPMniasiona-, Only sscentiy perhaps ttw best ißuaUi*t,wn of wisst & mounted officer can do was given by one of tie Detroit mounted squad, who puianl an alleged bouse-bwater through four back yards, vaulted five fences on hj» horse, and captured his man in an aJftey. At present Detroit's moanted police force contains thirty men, who daily cower regular beats in various remote parts of *he city. Any one of these officer* could play a not unimportant part in a Wild West show. The num. are taught to ride at a gallop while standing up m their stomps. The poorest rider in the force can picfc trj an object from the ground while gallons)] at fuH speed. The members of the aquae have practised until they arc .crack revolver shots while in motion. The bocsea and riders are trained to work in unison. At a given signal from a rider his mount will suddenly sit back upon na hatonehm, tiros farming with its neck and shoulders <l perfect bulwark for its master. At another signal this same animal wall, in the apace of Soar seconds, roll over on. it* side, allowing its rider to fire nam behind it. One of the prettiest spectacles of the "practice days" of the squad is to be seen when the thirty horses perform this manoeuvre together. Once a. week, on drill days, Detroit's monnted potioemen go thxongh all of their fancy movemente and evolutions under the critical eyes of Qaptain Lemuel Goiman, their trainer. On these days they charge and wheel, starch in perfect alignment, shoot to the front and rear, tide Oossack fashion, do spiral work, bareback riding, hippodrome work, take the htßK&s, go Unough the bpaogdown drain, and form hollow squares. If a rider shows banself deficient in doang these things he is quickly dropped oat ol the squad and another takes his place. These dri&s are inspiring sights, and thousands of Detroit people wilaaew them every Tuesday afternoon on a big common three miles from the heart of the oifcr. AH of the horses axe fine anhnahy and are of one color. This training has restated it some remarkable work. Last winter the ponce force of Detroit were on the look-out for a diamond thief. Sergeant ftrhx, a monnted poiioemara at that time, was tiding around hia beat, when he saw the man. wanted alight from a street car. He immedistery gave cJnse, and toe Uaef led him. the race of has ftfe. Over fences, tearing up front lawns and back yards, over hedga» and rubbish, Parker dwv* his I horse, xmr meoxSy <sbd»ig 3md man and then losing him temporaiiry. The snnnal whirled and wheeled at the s&ghtest pressure of the officer's knees, and it was dse greatly to the Bagacrty of the horse that finaHy the man was cornered. For ths> clever bit of work Parker was promoteu to be a sergeant, and he is now recognised as the most daring rider in the squad. Not long ago a Detroit monnted pooceman pursued two oar-breakers, rvito fled up a railroad track on a hand-car at his approach. Bquawly up the oentoeof the track for half a m3e {be ponceman pursued the thieves at a gallop. Within law than ten minutes the pursued men wen* oonrpeHed to stop their car and suriender.