Letter to the Editor: A Hidden Gem of the Sheriff's Office

One of the topics mentioned recently is the much lessened gang activity. Reasons given included the consequences of the recession on industry and therefore the movement of illegal immigrants to more lucrative areas. No one mentioned the effect that the Mounted Patrol Unit [of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office] has had on the gangs.

The Mounted Patrol Unit can access places that cars, trucks, even bicycles are unable to access. Once they began patrolling the areas where gangs gathered, the gangs dispersed. The gangs now gather on the other side of the Buford Dam area outside the jurisdiction of the Mounted Patrol Unit.

The Mounted Patrol Unit costs approximately $15,000 per year to run. They actually built their facility with their own hands; they take care of the horses themselves.

I would urge you to take a look at what $15,000 a year buys Forsyth County.

They are able to go into areas of woodlands to look for alleged criminals and lost people in a way that no vehicle can. 

They go into schools and speak with and take the horses to interact with children who otherwise would have no positive contact with law enforcement.

In 1995 Wyatt Web discovered the emotional connection between horses and emotionally dysfunctional youths. Humans are the ultimate predator and horses are the ultimate prey, yet there is an unmistakable connection, which is now being used for PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] victims.

• They teach trail riding safety classes to adults.

• The horses are highly trained for crowd control and each horse is more efficient than two men in crowd controlling situations. (See the use of horses during the riots in London and other European cities.)

It has been argued that the need for the Mounted Patrol Unit is no longer necessary since there is a decline in criminal activities in areas where the unit patrols. I would argue that it is worth $15,000 and more to keep the gangs out of Forsyth.

It saddens me that one of the candidates running for sheriff wants to close down the unit and lose all the gain they have made with the gangs and the children at risk in Forsyth County.

Thank you for reading this,

Debra Selinger

For more information about the Mounted Patrol Unit, call Sgt. Eric Silveus at 770-205-4544 or via e-mail.

Editor's Note: The opinion(s) expressed here are those of the writer and not of Cumming Patch. If you have something to share send liz.kennedy@patch.com a "Letter to the Editor" for publication consideration.