This week, the El Paso Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit hosted a Level II Advanced Mounted Patrol Course at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs. Participation included deputies from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Montrose Police Department, Denver County Sheriff’s Office, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. 

The week-long course covered search and rescue (article and person), land navigation, packing, equine first aid, advanced formations, patrol, crowd control scenarios, use of force, de-escalation training, and more.

“I am incredibly proud of our Mounted Unit’s leadership and their vision for leading the West in training, best practices, and new techniques,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “Our instructors collectively have over 50 years of experience in law enforcement, working with equine partners. My Office is dedicated to preserving the Western heritage and history we hold as Coloradans and law enforcement. Our Mounted Unit conducts traffic enforcement, search and rescue, article searches, and crowd control during large-scale events. They are an incredible asset to our Office and our community. I want to thank Deputies Larry Murphy, Chris Herman, and Sergeant Jeremy Juhl for their work and dedication to our Mounted Unit and extend an open invitation to law enforcement agencies across the U.S. to join us for future, top-notch training opportunities.” 

Our Office will host a Mounted Patrol Unit Instructor Course in the Spring of 2025 and a Level I Mounted Patrol Course in the early Summer of 2025. For more information, contact Deputy Chris Herman at chrisherman@elpasoco.com. 

In July 2024, Sheriff Roybal joined Norris-Penrose Event Center General Manager Kyle Park to announce their Offices' strategic, long-term partnership, making a permanent home for the El Paso County Mounted Unit at the Norris-Penrose Event Center Barn.