Generous donation reunites Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Unit
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Unit is back together after a local group stepped in to help.
The horses and law enforcement officers specialize in crowd control, watching over campgrounds and often help the search and rescue team.
In 2014, the Mounted Unit’s lease at a government-owned property in Lompoc was not renewed.
According to the Richard Kline, the president of Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse, Sheriff Bill Brown asked the organization to help the department.
“The mission of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse is to support the department in every way possible, every urgent need. Replacing bullet resistant vests. The county doesn’t have resources to replace them as often as it would be ideal to protect the men and women who are protecting us everyday,” said Richard Kline.
Earlier this year, an anonymous donor from Montecito offered the Posse a seven stall barn.
“To be the beneficiary of the Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse’s generosity has really been heart-warming,” said Lieutenant Erik Raney, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
The Posse is holding an “Old Fashioned Barn Raising Dedication” for the new facility located within the Santa Barbara Equestrian Center on North Refugio Road in Santa Ynez this Sunday. The gala, dinner and action will help the sheriff’s office by filling urgent needs not funded by the tight county budget. Tickets are $100 for adults and $35 for children under 12. For more details or to purchase tickets, visit this website.
