The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office will launch its first full-time Mounted Patrol Unit in 2027, replacing The Woodlands Township's private security horseback patrol with commissioned deputies who carry full police powers.
Sheriff Wesley Doolittle's office announced the unit Oct. 30, calling it a first for the agency. The mounted deputies will patrol large-scale events across Montgomery County, including concerts, parades and demonstrations that require crowd management.
The unit marks a shift for The Woodlands. The township's current mounted patrol operates under a civilian courtesy model through a private security company, Alpha & Omega. That contract expires Dec. 31, 2026, according to a township briefing published in September.
Unlike the current setup, MCSO deputies will have law enforcement authority, direct access to dispatch and the ability to draw on the full resources of the sheriff's office, according to a township Q&A document. Alpha & Omega's personnel are not commissioned law enforcement officers.
How it got approved
The Woodlands Township Board voted 6-0 on Sept. 17 to approve the MCSO proposal and authorize Township President and CEO Monique Sharp to negotiate a final agreement, according to the township's boardroom briefing. Chairman Brad Bailey was not in attendance for that vote.
Montgomery County commissioners then voted 5-0 on Oct. 22 to approve additional law enforcement for the township's mounted patrol services, Community Impact first reported.
The MCSO release credited a partnership with The Woodlands Township spanning more than 40 years, along with support from Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley.
What it costs
The proposed unit will include one sergeant, six deputies and seven horses funded by the township, according to the Sept. 17 boardroom briefing. The agreement carries about $1.37 million in annual operating costs and $954,000 in one-time capital costs for horses, vehicles, trailers, facilities and equipment.
Township staff estimated the new model will save about $133,000 a year compared with continuing the current service under a proposed rate increase, the briefing stated.
The township also allocated about $1.3 million in its fiscal year 2027 budget for mounted patrol services within the law enforcement fund, Community Impact reported.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Riley said the county will house the horses in stables at a park off Fish Creek Thoroughfare, Community Impact reported. Riley said a substation could also later be located at that site.
Not everyone moved at the same speed
Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray raised concerns about the pace of the approval at the Oct. 22 meeting, Community Impact reported. Gray still voted in favor of the measure.
Doolittle said in the Oct. 30 announcement that the sheriff's office looks forward to introducing the unit in 2027. Additional details about the launch and operations are expected as plans progress, the release stated.
