Jackson council directs staff to develop sworn mounted unit with sponsorship model
December 15, 2025 | Jackson, Teton County, Wyoming
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The Town of Jackson council unanimously directed staff to develop a sworn mounted unit program that would include acquisition, housing, care and operational use of town‑owned horses, and return a detailed program and policy package to the council.
Chief Weber told the council that the mounted program faces a structural threat: only two sworn mounted officers remain and both are eligible to retire. "Without sworn officers to provide oversight, training and accountability, a volunteer‑only mounted unit is not viable," she said, noting the town already owns facilities at Wayne May Park that could support a town‑owned mounted program.
Lieutenant Russell, the unit's training officer, described nearly four decades of mounted‑patrol history and a volunteer corps that has at times numbered 25–50 people. He emphasized the unit's functions—traffic and crowd control, community ambassadorship and event support—and noted volunteers and officers receive substantial horsemanship and scenario training.
Chief Weber proposed a sponsorship‑driven funding model to avoid creating a new ongoing budget obligation. She outlined potential acquisition and operating numbers: two to four horses, annual maintenance costs of roughly $5,000 per horse, and acquisition costs that can range up to $25,000 if a purchase is needed. She identified Friends of the Mountain Unit (a local nonprofit) as a likely partner to coordinate fundraising and sponsorships.
Councilors generally supported advancing the concept, asking staff to draft policies, provide detailed cost and facility estimates, and include reputational due diligence for prospective sponsors. Concerns included how mounted duties would fit with sworn officers' other responsibilities and whether the program would require town funds if sponsorship fell short.
Councilor Beaman moved to direct staff to develop the program and present proposed policies at a future meeting; Councilor Schechter seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
What’s next: staff will draft program policies, cost estimates and facility assessments and return to council with a fuller program proposal.
Chief Weber told the council that the mounted program faces a structural threat: only two sworn mounted officers remain and both are eligible to retire. "Without sworn officers to provide oversight, training and accountability, a volunteer‑only mounted unit is not viable," she said, noting the town already owns facilities at Wayne May Park that could support a town‑owned mounted program.
Lieutenant Russell, the unit's training officer, described nearly four decades of mounted‑patrol history and a volunteer corps that has at times numbered 25–50 people. He emphasized the unit's functions—traffic and crowd control, community ambassadorship and event support—and noted volunteers and officers receive substantial horsemanship and scenario training.
Chief Weber proposed a sponsorship‑driven funding model to avoid creating a new ongoing budget obligation. She outlined potential acquisition and operating numbers: two to four horses, annual maintenance costs of roughly $5,000 per horse, and acquisition costs that can range up to $25,000 if a purchase is needed. She identified Friends of the Mountain Unit (a local nonprofit) as a likely partner to coordinate fundraising and sponsorships.
Councilors generally supported advancing the concept, asking staff to draft policies, provide detailed cost and facility estimates, and include reputational due diligence for prospective sponsors. Concerns included how mounted duties would fit with sworn officers' other responsibilities and whether the program would require town funds if sponsorship fell short.
Councilor Beaman moved to direct staff to develop the program and present proposed policies at a future meeting; Councilor Schechter seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
What’s next: staff will draft program policies, cost estimates and facility assessments and return to council with a fuller program proposal.
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