Mounted-patrol vendor defends 31-year program as board questions public funding

Alpha & Omega Mounted Patrol presented operations and performance data March 26 as it marked more than three decades of partnership with the township, and the board discussed the program’s role, costs and accountability.

Mike Hendricks of Alpha & Omega described the mounted program as a "proactive deterrence layer" with extensive public interactions (85,317 documented contacts in 2025) and field activities that include crowd support and medical assists. "Visibility equals deterrence," Hendricks told the board, describing daily operations that he said reduce escalations that otherwise would require law enforcement intervention.

Directors asked for detail on cost and jurisdiction. One director emphasized that troopers are not sworn officers and said private-property security typically is paid by property owners; the director urged the company to sell its services to private owners rather than rely on taxpayer funds. Mike Hendricks said the mounted patrol coordinates with constables and the sheriff and that the program logs incident reports and formal operational metrics.

The board voted to accept the Alpha & Omega report. The meeting record shows the motion carried; Director Schulya Gibbs requested the record reflect her opposition and "hard no" to continuing the item as presented. Board members asked staff to clarify training, insurance and the operational boundary for mounted units and suggested follow-up meetings with law enforcement to better understand joint training and response protocols.

The presentation and questions underscored ongoing tension between the program’s public‑engagement benefits and questions about the appropriate use of township funds to support security where property ownership and enforcement authority overlap.