Madison Mounted Patrol Q&A: Policing Madison Political Demonstrations

The Madison Mounted Patrol participated in crowd control, as political demonstrators gathered recently in Wisconsin's Capitol city, responding to Governor Scott Walker's planned policies.

Officer Sarah McLaughlin of the Mounted Patrol (of the City of Madison Police Department) participated in an electronic interview to discuss the unit's role in supervising the political rallies:

Q: How many Madison Mounted Patrol officers participated in supervising the demonstrations?

McLaughlin: At the onset of the protest rallies, Officer Kathryn Cherne and I were deployed to work the Union Labor rallies from February 15 to 19 on our police mounts Beau and Artex. We worked in and around the State Capital and State Street areas.

The whole unit could not be deployed, because three new horses have not completed their training. Beau and Artex are the only officer-owned horses in the unit and with enough experience to work such an event.

Q: Were other mounted police units involved?

McLaughlin: Saturday, February 19, The Madison Police Mounted Patrol was joined by the State Fair Park Mounted Patrol to assist with a crowd estimated at over 70,000. Officers Deb Caravallo, Penny Lepak, Patti Kennedy, Heather Gotschalk, Patrick Fennesey and Joe Volz (along with their police mounts) assisted in helping rally participants find their way around the Capitol.

Q: What was the crowd response to the mounted patrol presence?

McLaughlin: The horses encountered large crowds, protest signs, loud music and chanting. For police horses, this is the kind of stimulus we train for. The crowd size was similar to what the annual Halloween Freakfest draws, but without the intoxication levels.

The crowds were very polite and civil in demonstrating their Constitutional rights. Many protest attendees made their appreciation known to us - happy that we were out looking after their safety, along with hundreds of other police officers from all over the State. The mounted patrollers were often the first officers individuals would see, as we stood high above the crowd. The officers on the ground seemed to get lost in the sea of people!

Q: What was the Madison Mounted Patrol staff's evaluation of public behavior during the demonstrations?

McLaughlin: At one point, the crowd needed to be stopped from marching around the Capitol to allow a group of opposing participants a safe passage through the crowd. The horses formed a line and helped ground officers maintain an orderly environment for all.

There could've been a large crush of people, but with mounted patrol, those not immediately in the area easily saw the police presence, so everyone waited patiently and civilly.

Q: Did any memorable incidents occur during the demonstrations?

McLaughlin: Mounted Patrol Officers Joe Volz and Patrick Fennesey made contact with an individual that tried to take a protest sign from a woman. Officers Sarah McLaughlin and Penny Lepak quickly took the person into custody. With the assistance of ground officers, he was interviewed and released with a citation for disorderly conduct.

A 1,200-pound partner can quickly part the sea of people in a non-confrontational manner and affect an arrest safely and efficiently.

Q: Do you have additional relevant comments or observations to share?

McLaughlin: The police horses are in their off-season until April. Last week's weather was mild, and the streets were snow and ice-free, making mounted patrols for the rally possible. The horses did great, considering they have been on "vacation" since Halloween.

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