Mounting community relations and public safety, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office recently hosted a Level I Regional Mounted Unit Academy at the Norris Penrose Event Center. The event, which took place last week, brought together mounted units from various sheriff's offices and police departments throughout Colorado to enhance their horsemanship and strategic law enforcement skills.
The weeklong academy was structured to expand operational capabilities comprehensively. Officers were trained to more effectively execute a variety of missions, from search and rescue operations to traffic stops. In a bid to realistically prepare the mounted units, the Ellicott Fire Department collaborated with the academy, providing scenario-based exercises that mirrored potential on-the-job challenges.
According to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, one of the standout moments of the academy was a procession from the event center to the sheriff’s downtown office. The spectacle of 40 riders and horses parading in formation served as a way to engage the public and showcase the skills acquired during the intensive training.
Graduates from the early May National Mounted Unit Instructor School were also present to assist and apply their new knowledge at the academy. As Sheriff Joseph Roybal put it, "The partnership with the Norris Penrose Event Center allows us to host valuable training events which bring agencies together to share knowledge, sharpen skills, and strengthen our ability to serve the public," as per the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. This academy brought together professionals from departments such as the Denver Sheriff’s Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, among others, to share a mutual commitment to community safety and professional excellence.
