San Marcos is saddling up as Texas State University introduces a new mounted horse patrol to its campus, a first in the state. Texas State’s police force will soon include two equine officers, Lyndon and Duke, named after Lyndon B. Johnson and John Wayne respectively. Corporal Aleysha Ortiz, who before had no horse experience, expressed excitement about the new program, "It’s new and exciting," while her partner on the force, Corporal Haley McClaran, welcomed the perspective that the large Belgian horses offer, "I can see way over there," McClaran said regarding the view from atop the horses, according to FOX 7 Austin.
For students job opportunities will be created as the campus equips itself with the necessary support for the new patrol members – including hiring student "scoopers" to follow the horse patrol and keep the campus clean. While this initiative may help bridge communication between officers and students, with one officer saying, having not seen this on other campuses, "I can stand out here with Duke and London and talk to 1,000 students," it also comes with its costs. As per the KXAN report, Austin approved nearly $18 million for an equestrian center in 2022, showcasing the significant financial commitment such mounted units represent.
Their role extends beyond law enforcement as well. "Hopefully we can prevent any crime and, of course, safety," Ortiz said, and McClaran added, "They’re held to a standard, so they get that treatment as being, the honor of being a police officer and upholding our laws and protecting our students." Training at the Freeman Ranch, both officers and their equine partners are gearing up for their official swearing-in ceremony at the end of the month.
Beyond patrolling, the officers hope to utilize the horses as a means to foster greater interaction with the university community. The mounted unit is already stirring interest, "I believe with these horses, it gives them, not a reason, but an inch forward, like oh, let me talk to the horse, and then we can open up and talk, so to bridge that gap is pretty much what we’re wanting to do," Ortiz said, in a statement obtained by FOX 7 Austin. The service of Lyndon and Duke is anticipated to start during the fall semester, after they have been formally integrated into the Texas State University Police Department. Meanwhile, the student body has already begun to familiarize themselves with the newest members of the campus police force.
