Deputy Chief Leendertse and Inspector Rastin,
Re: North American Police Equestrian Competition 2011 Toronto
Sirs, I am pleased to update you regarding the final results of our HPS Mounted Patrol Unit at the NAPEC 2011 event. We took home 13 ribbons total including the following: 1st place uniform division, 2nd and 3rd overall in high point standings (losing to Lexington Texas by 2 points for the grand prize Brigadire memorial award), 2nd 3rd 6th place equitation division, 3rd place team obstacles, 3rd place pairs obstacles, 7th & 8th singles obstacles. In addition to competition, our officers engaged in crowd management training and mounted search and rescue seminars.
Our horses and officers turned out extremely well and represented HPS to the highest of standards. I can not understate the value that this competition contributed to our ever increasing skill set, as well as our reputation within the mounted police community. We are newcomers to the scene and already recognized as a unit of very high calibre. The host agency Toronto Police Service consistently used our horses and officers as technique and tactic demonstrators for the rest of the delegates. These results are nothing short of outstanding for a program that has only been on the road for one year. We were publicly acknowledged by Staff Inspector Wardle as a first rate mounted unit.
The awards ceremony was hosted by TPS at Old Fort York. This was a gala event that was held in military tradition and featured cannon salutes, and honor guard of horses and color party, and Chief Bill Blair. Chief Blair shook all of our officers hands to congratulate them on a job well done. The tradition and pageantry in this ceremony made for a fine moment when the audience cheered for our Hamilton officers on their overall standing. You should also be aware that our officers dedicated many hours of their own time to make this event a success. (most of the officers have put between 60-80 hrs of their own time into preparation for this event) I am extremely proud of our Mounted Patrol Unit and would like to acknowledge your support in allowing the officers to attend this event. It means a great deal to the officers to have their command team behind them in this manner.
Respectfully submitted,
A/S/Sgt Martin Schulenberg 834