Mounted Tradition Moves Forward
Seven newly minted Mounted police officers now carry forward the tradition of horsemanship, discipline and commitment to service forged over the 140-year history of Toronto’s oldest police unit, said Chief Myron Demkiw.
“The fact that people come from all over the province, and even the world, to train with our Mounted Unit is a testament to this culture of excellence,” he said of the officers, three from Toronto, two from Ottawa and two from Hamilton who spent 15 weeks in training.
Founded in 1886, the unit continues to be relevant to today’s policing deployed to manage large crowds and cover rough terrain quickly.
“The work of our Mounted Unit continues to be essential,” said Demkiw, noting the Service is continuing to invest in the unit renovating its stables.
“When it comes to crowd management, it is estimated that one officer on horseback has the equivalent impact of 10 officers on the ground,” Demkiw said. “In dynamic situations like major events or demonstrations, it is critical that officers and their horses move together as one team. These officers must be highly skilled, disciplined and precise.”
With a noticeable rise in demonstrations and protests across Toronto and other major cities, mounted units are becoming an increasingly vital component of modern policing, particularly in crowd management.
Their presence offers both practical and symbolic advantages, providing officers with greater visibility and mobility to monitor large gatherings and respond quickly to changing situations.
“This is absolutely a critical component of our response to protests and demonstrations in Toronto,” said Deputy Chief Frank Barredo. “We are proud of the seamless interaction between the Mounted and Public Order Units. They are a strong visual presence, and when deployed, few resources are as effective as highly trained mounted officers. They have served this city for 140 years and remain as important today as ever.”
Demkiw also thanked the new Toronto Police graduates for going the extra mile and daring to learn something new.
“As you step forward, I know you will have plenty of important work ahead in the weeks and months to come,” he said. “Your dedication, commitment, and willingness to grow will make a meaningful difference. We thank you for your valuable contribution to our Service and to the city.”
He also acknowledged Mounted Unit training staff member Constable Richard Cooper, who is retiring after 30 years of service. He has been with the unit since 2001.
“You have shaped generations of riders and horses,” added Demkiw. “Thank you for everything. Your dedication is truly remarkable, and your legacy will continue to live on.”
Since its inception, more than 550 officers have passed through the Mounted Unit, including Constable Hugh Bagnall, who joined the Service in 1975 and attended the graduation.
The unit is guided by four key pillars -- supporting the wellness of Toronto Police Service members; fostering community engagement through school visits, community events, and ceremonial occasions; providing investigative support, including ground searches for missing persons; and managing crowds to help ensure public safety at large gatherings and events.
Toronto Police Service Board Chair Shelley Carroll told the graduates they are joining a unit respected worldwide.
“That reputation is built on professionalism, rigorous training and strong collaboration,” she said. “Mounted units are deeply interconnected, and we are proud to work alongside our policing partners across jurisdictions. The training you have completed is demanding. It requires focus, resilience and exceptional coordination between officer and horse. It is through that training that you have developed the skills and confidence needed to serve safely and effectively. We need that more than ever in Toronto.”
Before arriving in Toronto, the Ottawa riders completed four weeks of training with the RCMP.
“We had a variety of riding skill sets,” said Sergeant Kris McCarthy. “One officer from Ottawa has 22 years of experience, while the rest came to us without any riding background. We focus on crowd control manoeuvres developed over the years, along with basic equitation training. Our riding position differs slightly from other equine disciplines. In that we sit taller, with our hips slightly ahead of our shoulders, giving us a broader base to perform policing functions effectively.”
Constable Kelvin Lam, who served five years with the RCMP before joining TPS two years ago, said his interest in public order drew him to the unit.
“My first introduction to horses was through the Public Order Unit,” said Lam, who was serving with 22 Division in Etobicoke before joining the unit. “I love the public safety aspect, and the horses caught my attention. I had no riding experience before.”
He described the course as both challenging and rewarding.
“The first week was tough,” he said. “I’m not very flexible, so mounting the horse was difficult. When they told me to go right, I went left and I started to question whether I could do this. But with daily riding and support from the trainers, I became more comfortable.”
After more than two decades on the job, Sergeant Steven Van Der Krabben said he was looking for a new challenge, which led him to the Mounted Unit.
“After the first few weeks of training, I questioned what I was doing because my body was sore all over. But you develop your riding form, and it gets better.”
For Hamilton Police Constable Lucas Cadet-Herchenroder, seeing the RCMP Musical Ride a few years ago sparked his interest.
“After speaking with members of our unit and others, I decided this was a challenge I wanted to take on,” he said. “By far, it has been the biggest challenge of my career, but also incredibly rewarding. It has been a pleasure learning from Toronto Police, which is world-renowned.”
During the ceremony at the Horse Palace, the new members showcased their skills, riding in unison in a musical ride and demonstrating crowd management techniques.
Toronto now has a complement of 40 Mounted Unit officers and 25 horses.
