ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993                   TAG: 9307310084
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short


PATROL HORSES TO LIVE IN BOOSTER'S STABLE

Four years ago, Rick Harman Sr. started talking to city officials about establishing a mounted police patrol.

Now, Harman is putting his property - a long-vacant stable on Cleveland Avenue Southwest - where his advocacy has been.

When Roanoke police officers begin patrolling downtown on horseback late this year, the horses and the officers will be working out of Harman's stable, near Memorial Bridge and just a stone's throw from the WROV radio station.

"It requires a stable close to downtown," Harman pointed out.

Actually, Roanoke mounties and their steeds will have to travel about a mile before they reach their assigned patrol area, primarily the City Market.

Horse storage will require the city to amend the property's heavy-manufacturing zoning designation to allow it to be used by police and their steeds.

Harman, who owns Harman Ceiling & Partition Co., built the stables about 12 years ago when he bought a horse for his wife. Later, after he built a stable in Roanoke County, Harman deserted his city stables about eight years ago.

Over the years, Harman has improved the facility, which is adjacent to the approximate 2 acres of his business property.

City police have a three-year rent-free lease on the property, which will include an office and three stalls, he said.



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