Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 22, 1993 TAG: 9307220219
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
A selection panel is scheduled to begin interviews with interested officers Tuesday, said Lt. Doug Allen, who will supervise the horse patrol.
Plans call for the city to have two mounted officers by December.
Allen said eight men and one woman have expressed interest.
The successful candidates are scheduled to begin training in Maryland in October. Two full-time patrol officers and a backup will receive the horseback training.
Allen said the selection panel will consist of himself; Maj. Don Shields, who runs the department's patrol division; Joe Wright, of Downtown Roanoke Inc.; and Rick Harmon, a local horsemen who will provide the city with stable facilities.
Each candidate will be interviewed for about 45 minutes, Allen said.
Downtown Roanoke Inc. has agreed to pay all of the costs for the horses, saddles, food, stables and other expenses for two mounted officers. A tax-exempt foundation will be created to finance the mounted police.
Start-up costs are estimated to be $23,000, with an annual operating cost of $8,000.
The city would pay the salaries and related expenses for the officers on horses, the same as it does for all other officers.
by CNB