Mounted Patrol

The Cape May County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit was established in 1985 when newly elected Sheriff, Jim Plousis recognized a need to assist local Law Enforcement agencies with locating missing persons as well as a need for a more versatile method of patrol around sections of the county. The unit started with a horse named Justice who was donated by the Philadelphia Police Department. 

Today, the Mounted Unit operates under the Law Enforcement Division and still holds fast to its origins by regularly patrolling the four County Parks. The unit has expanded in services and responsibility by patrolling the County Bike Path, County Complex, AtlantiCape Community College and providing patrol services to law enforcement agencies in the region. Additionally, the Unit will participate events like beach concerts, community festivals, football games, etc. at the request of the municipalities. 

The Cape May County Sheriff’s Mounted Unit operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, under the Law Enforcement Division providing mounted services to Law Enforcement agencies in Cape May County with hundreds of deployments a year. See the Annual Report under the Mounted Section for statistics.

Officers assigned to this unit must complete a 400-hour Basic Mounted Police Training School followed by an 80-hour field training period and maintain that training with in-house training as well as in-services.

Mounted Officers and their partners also educate the public through demonstrations and by participating in numerous community events such as National Night Out, 4H Fair and LEAD (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) programs.

The Mounted Patrol's use will expand outside the Park and Zoo to include:

• Special zoo, park and neighborhood events
• Community special events
• Concerts at the Park
• Sporting events
• Parades
• Various police agency requests
• National Night Out
• Crowd control after bar closings for larger events when requested