OAKLAND COUNTY (WWJ) - The Oakland County Sheriff's Office is hiring new members to its team, but its not to fill your typical law enforcement position.
While all are encouraged to apply, officials said applicants must already have a partner -- a four-legged, tail-swishing, hay-munching, roughly 1,000 lb. partner.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit, one of the oldest horse patrols in the country, hopes to add part-time deputies and their equine companions to help with special events throughout the county.
In a social media post, county officials said they were "Looking for a few good women and men, and horses."
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The unit is currently comprised of 18 deputies who provide their own horses, the sheriff's website states. They routinely participate in Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day parades, as well as the Rochester Hills, Clawson and Oak Park Fireworks, the Woodward Dream Cruise, Paint Creek Trail, Superbowl XL, Quake on the Lake, Holly & Novi Expos, Walled Lake & Ortonville Military Funerals, Ortonville Halloween, Auburn Hills Police Week, and other protection details for the United States Secret Service.
Established in 1948, the Mounted Unit assists the Parks Unit in providing law enforcement services to Addison Oaks, Groveland Oaks and Independence Oaks Parks.
"With their prominent perch on horseback, the mounted deputies provide a visible patrol force as well as a friendly attraction for the thousands of Oakland County's annual park visitors," the sheriff's office added.
To start, officials said those that are interested in the position have to own their own horse.
Additional details can be found by reaching out to Sgt. Dave Roddy at roddyd@oakgov.com or (248) 858-1718 or Sgt. Kristen Zdankiewicz at 248-858-4995 or zdankiewicz@oakgov.com.
There are over a dozen Mounted Units operating in the state of Michigan, including Barry County Sheriff Posse Mounted Division in Hastings, Cadillac Police Department Auxiliary Horse Patrol, Detroit Police Department Mounted Unit in Detroit, Eaton County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit, Kalamazoo County Sheriff Mounted Division, Kent County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol, Lenawee County Sheriff Mounted Division, Livingston County Sheriff's Department Mounted Division, Oakland County Sheriff's Department Mounted Division, Ottawa County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit, Saginaw County Sheriff's Posse Mounted Division, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office Mounted Patrol Division and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office Mounted Patrol Division.
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