Crime & Safety
Tampa Police Mounted Patrol Introduces Newest Member, Opus X
The Tampa police have had a mounted patrol unit since 1891. There are currently six horses in the unit.
TAMPA, FL — Although the Tampa Bay Lightning lost Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals to the Colorado Avalanche 3-4 Wednesday night, Lightning fans attending the watch party at Amalie Arena had a chance to meet another champion.
The Tampa Police Department introduced its newest police horse, Opus X.
The 7-year-old Shire horse was trained at Mounted Patrol International Inc. in Texas and donated to the Tampa police by the Arturo Fuente family of Arturo Fuente Cigars and Grand Cathedral Cigars along with the Rise Tampa Police Foundation.
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The newest member of the Tampa Police Mounted Patrol Unit is named for the Fuente Opus X hand-rolled quality cigar.
As the department welcomed Opus X to the unit made up of six horses, Tampa police bid farewell to a longtime member of the mounted patrol who is retiring.
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As the Tampa police welcomed Opus X, they bid farewell to 12-year mounted patrol unit member Tank, who is retiring and going to live with his former partner.
Tank was donated to the Tampa Police Department in 2010 and, in the 12 years since, assisted at a number of significant events in Tampa including the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup Final, the National Championship and numerous Gasparilla Pirate Parades.
Among the largest horses in the patrol, Tank was also one of the gentlest and was a favorite of Tampa residents.
Tank will spend his retirement with an old friend and his one-time partner, Retired Mounted Master Police Office Timothy Pasley.
Horses have a long and celebrated history with the Tampa Police Department.
The Tampa City Council approved the use of horses for its police force on Oct. 2, 1891.
Initially, the horse or mule in law enforcement was used for pulling the prisoner transport wagon.
Today, the Tampa Police Mounted Patrol Unit has six horses that are a strong presence at all major city events, assisting with crowd control and perimeter patrol.
The horses are also used in crime prevention, park patrols and community relations. Both the horses and their partners undertake specialty training to be a part of the unit.
The Tampa Police Mounted Patrol Unit is supported by the nonprofit Rise Tampa Mounted Club, which accepts donations and raises funds for essential equipment for the unit, critical medical needs of the horses and stables and supplies for the horses.
To donate to the unit, click here.
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