CJ a Belgian horse who is ready to fight crime and has newly joined the Dover Police Department in New Hampshire! I hope he does well and continues to learn the ropes of his new job! ~Declan
CJ is newest addition to city Mounted Patrol
By Andrea Bulfinch abulfinch@fosters.com |
Monday, February 11, 2013 As Posted on Foster's Daily Democrat
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DOVER — He doesn’t like sewage drains. But he does like apples, and serving the community, just like his partner, Monte.
CJ is the newest addition to the Dover Mounted Patrol and has passed his 90-day trial period with the department. He’s still getting used to crowds and continues a lot of on-the-job training with his rider, officer Michelle Murch, but CJ is ready to patrol the streets of the Garrison City, one hoof at a time.
His cost, $3,500, was funded by C&J Trailways and company President Jim Jalbert, and CJ joined the department in October, leaving his home in Pittsfield.
“We’ve worked with the Dover Police Department since the 1980s,” Jalbert said. “We’ve always been supportive of the Dover Police Charities.”
He said he thought the purchase of CJ was a great idea to replace the hard-working TJ, who had helped Murch patrol the streets for years.
“Some of the programs are difficult to fund. But they’re the fabric of the community,” Jalbert said.
Soon, baseball cards will be available for Dover’s youth featuring CJ and Murch, and Monte and his rider, officer Joe Caproni.
Murch said the horses have to get used to environmental surprises such as fireworks, large crowds, and other noises.
CJ was slowly introduced into the Mounted Patrol and brought into the downtown area during his training. Before that, Murch said they would trot and ride around in the stable lot on Cocheco Street.
Training is done with the Mounted Patrol, mostly locally, they said, but also with regional groups like the Manchester Police and the Plymouth Police Mounted Unit in Massachusetts.
TJ, who was getting older and retired at age 21, is now in the care of one of the Mounted Patrol unit volunteers, was beginning to exhibit signs of his older age with medical issues, Capt. Bill Breault said. Those things can be pretty expensive and well outside of the Police Department’s budget.
The Mounted Patrol is run fully through donations and relies heavily on the help of volunteers.
“These are the only two that we have now,” Breault said.
There were formerly three horses; however, with only two Mounted Patrol officers, there was little time to ride and properly maintain a third equine.
Before CJ, all horses of the Mounted Patrol have been donated. Because the equines need to be owned by the city for liability purposes, C&J Trailways made a donation in the amount of his purchase to the Dover Police Charities and that money in turn was given to the city.
The stables and paddocks are sponsored by local businesses with money that goes toward hay, shoeing, and the volunteer force.
“We certainly couldn’t do it without the volunteers,” Breault said.
Local sponsors include Relyco, Public Service of New Hampshire, LaFesta Pizzeria, the Barley Pub, Aubuchon Hardware, Burke’s Tree Service, and New England Equine Surgical and Medical Center.
With so much support, CJ seems to be adjusting well to his new home and friends.
“He’s been amazing since day one,” Murch said.
But, neither CJ nor Monte is really pleased with large trucks passing by, especially in tight traffic areas.
“They’re not used to having things be bigger than them,” Caproni said.
“I think he’s more mischievous than Monte,” Murch said, sitting high atop her buddy, CJ, who put his ears forward for his photo-op with Foster’s Daily Democrat.
Both are draft horses. CJ a Belgian while Monte is a Percheron.
Right now in the cold of winter, the Mounted Patrol gets out as much as possible — even in the snow — and will be out and about in the city even more often in the spring.
While both horses are friendly and approachable and love socializing, Murch and Caprone say it’s best to ask an officer before getting close and petting either animal. And certainly do not go running up behind one of the horses or underneath them.
One thing is for sure, though, CJ is making the streets of Dover his new home — and a little safer, too — with a lot to learn still.
“He has some big hoofs to fill following TJ,” Murch said.
Anyone wishing to volunteer with the horses or make donations to support the Dover Mounted Patrol may contact Breault at the Dover Police Department by calling 603-781-1224.
CJ is the newest addition to the Dover Mounted Patrol and has passed his 90-day trial period with the department. He’s still getting used to crowds and continues a lot of on-the-job training with his rider, officer Michelle Murch, but CJ is ready to patrol the streets of the Garrison City, one hoof at a time.
His cost, $3,500, was funded by C&J Trailways and company President Jim Jalbert, and CJ joined the department in October, leaving his home in Pittsfield.
“We’ve worked with the Dover Police Department since the 1980s,” Jalbert said. “We’ve always been supportive of the Dover Police Charities.”
He said he thought the purchase of CJ was a great idea to replace the hard-working TJ, who had helped Murch patrol the streets for years.
“Some of the programs are difficult to fund. But they’re the fabric of the community,” Jalbert said.
Soon, baseball cards will be available for Dover’s youth featuring CJ and Murch, and Monte and his rider, officer Joe Caproni.
John Huff/Staff photographer President of C&J Jim Jalbert stands in front of a C&J bus with Dover Police Officers Joe Caproni and Michelle Murch atop Monty and CJ respectively. Dover Mounted Patrol's newest member replaces retired TJ and continues his training to serve the community. |
CJ was slowly introduced into the Mounted Patrol and brought into the downtown area during his training. Before that, Murch said they would trot and ride around in the stable lot on Cocheco Street.
Training is done with the Mounted Patrol, mostly locally, they said, but also with regional groups like the Manchester Police and the Plymouth Police Mounted Unit in Massachusetts.
TJ, who was getting older and retired at age 21, is now in the care of one of the Mounted Patrol unit volunteers, was beginning to exhibit signs of his older age with medical issues, Capt. Bill Breault said. Those things can be pretty expensive and well outside of the Police Department’s budget.
The Mounted Patrol is run fully through donations and relies heavily on the help of volunteers.
“These are the only two that we have now,” Breault said.
There were formerly three horses; however, with only two Mounted Patrol officers, there was little time to ride and properly maintain a third equine.
Before CJ, all horses of the Mounted Patrol have been donated. Because the equines need to be owned by the city for liability purposes, C&J Trailways made a donation in the amount of his purchase to the Dover Police Charities and that money in turn was given to the city.
The stables and paddocks are sponsored by local businesses with money that goes toward hay, shoeing, and the volunteer force.
“We certainly couldn’t do it without the volunteers,” Breault said.
Local sponsors include Relyco, Public Service of New Hampshire, LaFesta Pizzeria, the Barley Pub, Aubuchon Hardware, Burke’s Tree Service, and New England Equine Surgical and Medical Center.
With so much support, CJ seems to be adjusting well to his new home and friends.
“He’s been amazing since day one,” Murch said.
But, neither CJ nor Monte is really pleased with large trucks passing by, especially in tight traffic areas.
“They’re not used to having things be bigger than them,” Caproni said.
“I think he’s more mischievous than Monte,” Murch said, sitting high atop her buddy, CJ, who put his ears forward for his photo-op with Foster’s Daily Democrat.
Both are draft horses. CJ a Belgian while Monte is a Percheron.
Right now in the cold of winter, the Mounted Patrol gets out as much as possible — even in the snow — and will be out and about in the city even more often in the spring.
While both horses are friendly and approachable and love socializing, Murch and Caprone say it’s best to ask an officer before getting close and petting either animal. And certainly do not go running up behind one of the horses or underneath them.
One thing is for sure, though, CJ is making the streets of Dover his new home — and a little safer, too — with a lot to learn still.
“He has some big hoofs to fill following TJ,” Murch said.
Anyone wishing to volunteer with the horses or make donations to support the Dover Mounted Patrol may contact Breault at the Dover Police Department by calling 603-781-1224.
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