Mounted Patrolman Fred Elliott of the San Diego Police sits on his mount in this excellent 1908 photograph. His brother, James, was also in the department. They were sons of Deputy Sheriff Andy Elliott, pioneer lawman of Imperial County.
Police Chief J. Keno Wilson, tenth man to head the department, proudly "stands tall" on his mount, sixth from left, in this 1915 photograph taken in front of the station at 732 Second Street. The City Jail is barely visible in the background to the left.
The San Diego Police Department in 1914. Police Chief J. Keno Wilson sits astride a horse at the far right. The elite, the detectives, sit in two touring cars, one a Model T Ford and the other a Reo. The two women in one touring car are the regular matron and her substitute. The locale is Pantoja or New Town Park. About twenty other officers are not shown as they were busy keeping the peace elsewhere in the city.
From 1889 on horses were the mainstay for police patrol of outlying areas, but they were replaced by autos in 1916. Mounts were again used starting in 1932 when patrol was reinstituted in Balboa Park. Here is the morning lineup in the middle 1930s.
Both patrolman and horse were nearing the end of police service when this photograph was taken of Alfred D. Schnepp and his mount Black Dan. The two retired from the force on February 1, 1946-the last to see regular mounted service. Although retired they remained together on Schnepp's ranch in Escondido until Black Dan's death. Schnepp joined the force in 1924.
Patrolman Frank Bonnet was assigned to ride mounted patrol in San Diego's 1935 Exposition and continued until the horse detail ended in 1946. The "SDPD" markings on the blanket and harness appear in sharp detail. Bonnet became the first head of security at the San Diego Zoo upon his retirement.
The pile driver was ready and so was a special detail of motorcycle and mounted police for the ground breaking ceremonies on August 16, 1938 for a new police headquarters, city jail and courtrooms at 801 West Market Street. City Council members, City Manager Flack, and Police Chief George Sears were among the dignitaries. The "fortress" was constructed on a Public Works Administration grant and city funds for a total of $390.000. The actual work was completed by a depression labor force from the Works Progress Administration. This central station, still in use, was the fifth one occupied by the police department since 1889.
(these pictures were obtained from just simply using a good 'old fashioned' search engine. There are many amazing photo's that exemplify how these Mounted Patrols are still woven into fabric of our beautiful city as part of our celebrations, our culture and part of our security)
Posts
