Mounted Police Volunteers to Patrol Columbia's Pathways

An effort to increase security on Columbia's pathways during the summer months includes mounted police, bike patrols and new signs on trails and bridges.

The plan is a partnership between Howard County Police and Columbia Association, which owns and maintains the pathways.

During the summer, school resource officers will work as bike police on the 93 miles of paths, around the mall and near the Lakefront, according to a joint CA/HCPD statement.

Volunteer mounted patrol officers were also recruited to trot the pathways. The mounted unit is composed of 12 local volunteers and their personally owned horses, according to the statement. 

"This is the time when people are outdoors and enjoying the open space pathways and amenities," said Sean Harbaugh, assistant director of CA's Open Space Management Division, in a statement. "I believe the extra sets of eyes and direct communication between the volunteers, HCPD and Open Space Management will certainly help the few unwanted activities that occur."

Harbaugh said he met with the mounted unit before implementing the plan. He said they have a protocol that includes sweeping "horse mess" off of pathways and using bun bags to deal with this issue. In addition, they have a pathway etiquette in place that asks the mounted units to yield to pedestrians, according to Harbaugh.

"The first weekend [mounted units] were out, they were greeted and welcomed on the pathway system," said Harbaugh, in an email.

Sherry Llewellyn, a police spokesperson, said the horses are trained to be around people and bikers and will wear bun bags. The volunteer horse patrol program originally launched in May 2012 in other parks and recreational areas around the county and has been "very well-received by the public," according to Llewellyn.

CA and HCPD also announced that new signs have been installed on bridges and trails to help speed up emergency response. The signs have alphanumeric codes that when told to a dispatcher will allow responders to locate the caller.

"Time is of the essence in an emergency situation," said Police Chief William McMahon, in a statement. "This will enable our first responders to find a person in trouble, even without a specific address."

Police reported in March that a man was robbed while walking on a footpath near Phelps Luck Road and after two robberies near the Route 29 footbridge in Nov., police said they would increase patrols in that area.

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