New Mounted Unit truck purchased through donations!

It is with great pleasure and sincere gratitude that the members of the Bethlehem Police Mounted Patrol Unit announce the purchase of a new truck to be used as the primary hauler for the Unit’s trailer. The new truck, a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD crew cab, allows for increased towing capacity, heavy duty brakes, and increased occupancy while replacing the Unit’s thirteen year old existing hauler. It allows for safer towing of the Unit’s three horse trailer and eliminates the need for using an additional police vehicle when going to public events with the horses by increasing from a two to a six passenger truck.  The truck  was purchased entirely through organization and corporate donations by the following donors.

• Air Products Inc.
• Anonymous
• Lafayette Ambassador Bank
• Capital Blue Cross
• Lehigh University
• Brown Daub Chevrolet
• The Bethlehem Rotary Club
• Embassy Bank

Without the help of these businesses and organizations, the Unit would have been unlikely to add a new truck anytime in the near future. We look forward to working with all the donors in the future and again thank them for their commitment to the Bethlehem community. Their donations help keep Bethlehem safe one hoof at a time.

The new truck, see below photos, is painted and decal’d in the retro black and white paint scheme matching several existing and all new police fleet vehicles. The following photos are before and after.

The unveiling of the new truck will take place Monday, April 8th at 11:30 am in front of Bethlehem City Hall, 10 E. Church St. Please join Mayor John Callahan, Police Chief Jason Schiffer, Raven, Pharaoh, and George in thanking our wonderful sponsors and supporters.

Air Products sponsors Raven again in 2013!

It is with tremendous gratitude that the Bethlehem Mounted Patrol Unit announces another continued sponsorship through our Adopt-A-Horse program. Again in 2013, Air Products will adopt Raven!  We appreciate Air Products’ adoption of Raven the last two years and look forward to the continued community partnership in the future. Air Products’ generosity allows us to minimize the impact of the cost of the horses on the tax payers.

Sponsorship for George is available as the previous year sponsor did not wish to renew their sponsorship.  If you, or your company, are interested in donating to  support the police horses please check out our “Community Patrons” page for details about our Adopt-A-Horse and Giving Club programs.

Thanks again Air Products!

Sweet Sponsorship Continues…

It is with tremendous gratitude that the Bethlehem Mounted Patrol Unit announces the continued sponsorship of Pharaoh by Just Born in 2013 through our Adopt-A-Horse program. We appreciate Just Born’s sponsorship of Pharaoh the last two years and look forward to the continued community partnership in the future. Just Born’s adopting Pharaoh allows us to minimize the impact of the cost of the horses on the tax payers.

Sponsorship for George and Raven are still pending as the previous year sponsors are given the first opportunity to sponsor again. Stay posted in the future for updates.  If you, or your company, are interested in donating to  support the police horses please check out our “Community Patrons” page for details about our Adopt-A-Horse and Giving Club programs.

Thanks again Just Born!

TuWay Communications ponies up for the Mounted Unit.

It is with great appreciation that the Bethlehem Mounted Patrol Unit is proud to welcome another member of our Giving Club. TuWay Communications, based in Bethlehem, generously donated five-thousand dollars ($5,000) to the Unit’s Giving Club to further our goal of minimizing the annual cost of the police horses on the city’s budget. TuWay Communications is a leader in integrated communications systems. For more than 50 years, TuWay has been providing businesses and public safety agencies with customized solutions that help them improve efficiency, safety, and productivity.

We are very thankful for our current partnership with TuWay and look forward to a continued community partnership in the future. A copy of the press release  is included immediately below.

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Monday, December 24th 2012

Contact: Office of the Police Chief

610-865-7150

TuWay Communications Donates to Bethlehem Police Horses.

Bethlehem, Pa – The City of Bethlehem Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit is pleased to announce a community partnership with TuWay Communications through a generous donation of five-thousand dollars ($5,000). The donation will go into the Unit’s Wish fund through their Giving Club which along with their yearly Adopt-A-Horse program helps support the Unit’s goal of minimizing their financial impact on the city’s budget.  “Community involvement with the Police Department has a storied history in Bethlehem”, said Officer Jon Buskirk, a member of the Mounted Patrol Unit. “The Bethlehem Police Department believes in and subscribes to the community policing model of law enforcement and it is great to have that pay off in the way of financial support for our program.”

TuWay Communications, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is a leader in integrated communications systems. For more than 50 years, TuWay has been providing businesses and public safety agencies with customized solutions that help them improve efficiency, safety, and productivity. “TuWay is very involved with Bethlehem and the surrounding Lehigh Valley communities and we are very happy to welcome them as supporters of the Bethlehem Police Mounted Unit”, said Officer Timothy Brooks, a member of the Unit.

For further information regarding TuWay Communications please visit their website at http://www.tuway.com. Information pertaining to the City of Bethlehem Mounted Unit’s fundraising and donation programs can be viewed at http://www.bethlehemmountedpolice.com.

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IMAGE:

Available at:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1266/5189506013_c8aed6d3d2.jpg

Caption: “Bethlehem Police Department Mounted Officers Leaser, Buskirk, and Brooks, with their respective partners George, Pharaoh, and Raven.”

Photo Caption Contest – October 16th edition

Our caption competition started October 16th. You can see all the entries at our Facebook caption page. The photo shows Officer Mike Leaser with George and Officer Tim Brooks with Raven flanking the Little Caesar mascot. The photo was taken at the James Buchanan Elementary School on the day of their walk-a-thon. We’re happy we were invited to participate—everyone had such a great time.

Thanks to everyone who played along and submitted captions! Here’s our winner:

Our winner:
“No officer, I said “Pizza, Pizza”…REALLY…
I wasn’t going to lift my toga!”
— from Deb A. Healing

Congratulations to our winning participants! Good work, everyone, and many thanks to all the entrants.

[Note: If you click the photo above, you will see a larger version.]

Mounted Police and Mounted Trooper Support.

The members of the Bethlehem Police Mounted Patrol Unit would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to the Lancaster City Police Mounted Unit and the Pennsylvania State Police Tactical Mounted Unit’s team of fourteen Troopers and horses who assisted us during Musikfest 2012. Your commitment to the citizens’ safety is greatly appreciated.

Bethlehem Mounted Unit aids in capture of “Sorry” Thief

George and Pharaoh helped catch a thief yesterday at Historic Bethlehem Partnership’s Moravian Blacksmith Shop on the south end of Main St. with the assistance of several Bethlehem Police Department Officers. The members of the Mounted Unit would like to thank the Patrol Officers, Mountain Bike Officers,  Detectives, and the Command Staff who helped corral the thief. This once again proves that you can’t beat teamwork. Click on the link below to view the Bethlehem Police Department’s Blog post on the crime, foot chase, and subsequent arrest.

Bethlehem Mounted Unit aids in capture of “Sorry” Thief.

Mane ‘n Tail

The Bethlehem Mounted Patrol Unit is proud to exclusively use Mane ‘n Tail grooming products. Mane ‘n Tail is manufactured locally in Bethlehem by Straight Arrow Products, Inc.  Raven, Pharaoh, and George particularly enjoy the Spray-Away Horse Wash for a quick bath after a night full of rolling in the dusty turnout prior to heading out on patrol.

Saddle for Sale!

The Mounted Patrol Unit is currently looking to sell a Dixieland Custom Gaited Saddle. The saddle was purchased in 2009 for our former police horse Hamlet. The saddle is a 16″ black leather, gaited saddle with a wide tree. It is in excellent condition and has been used for a short period of time (3 months) for mounted patrol work and short trail rides and stored in a climate controlled room since then. The purchase price was $1,254 and we are asking $1,000 or best offer. A local buyer is preferred because a signed invoice is required due to purchase funds originating from a Federal grant. If interested please contact us at mountedpatrol@bethlehem-pa.gov .

Final Adopt-A-Horse Sponsor!

UPDATE!

It is with great pleasure and gratitude that the Bethlehem Police Mounted Patrol Unit would like to announce the Adopt-A-Horse sponsors. For 2012 and beyond, Raven will be sponsored by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Stop by our community patrons page for additional details.

From left: George, Raven, Pharaoh

PONY UP FOR THE MOUNTED UNIT!

2012 is here! Along with the new year comes the anticipated completion of the 501(c)(3) Non-Profit, Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police. A non-profit organization allows us to provide donors and sponsors with a tax-deductible donation center that is overseen by a board of directors. The current budget through the City of Bethlehem for the care of the horses is near $6,000. With the help of Air Products and the other Adopt-A-Horse Sponsors, along with the generous support from  additional companies and private citizens through our Giving Club, the Mounted Unit covered the difference in operating costs needed to operate into 2013. Thanks for all your support.