(gentle music) (horses walking) - [Esteban] My name is Officer Esteban Arreguin.

This is my horse, Charlie.

He's a 12-year-old Percheron cross.

We've worked together now for the past six years.

But when I was a kid I got to work with horses for a couple of years, and I really found a passion for horses.

- [Camera Person] Stinker.

- [Esteban] We use all Percheron or Percheron crosses.

They are a draft horse.

They have a very good temperament, willingness, and an eagerness to work.

- And this is my partner, Jill.

Jill and I have been together for almost six years.

It's nice because with the horses you really get a bond the same way that you do with humans.

I know what's gonna bother her.

I know what she's gonna be willing to do, what's kind of gonna scare her, if something would.

And I know that she's can keep me safe and I can keep her safe.

(indistinct chattering) We do a lot of community events, so it creates like a nice bridge for people, citizens that maybe wouldn't feel comfortable coming up and talking to an officer.

And it just creates nice relationships, maybe that we wouldn't experience if I was just in the squad car, 'cause no one wants to pet my squad car.

(officer chuckles) - [Esteban] We have the ability to go out into communities that might not often get to see a horse.

Whether you like the police or not, you're gonna like my horse.

So it bridges that gap between us and the community.

- One great thing about being on them is that we can see very deep into the crowd.

So if I was just walking on foot, I can only see maybe 10 people deep or something.

When I'm on her, I can see to the far end of the crowd, I can see if somebody needs help or medical assistance, and that we can create a nice path through that crowd to get to someone who's injured.

We can get to those spots a little easier than the guys on the ground.

- Sometimes when we're out working a crowd, I feel like he enjoys the intensity of the crowd, and he handles that very well.

There isn't much that startles him or spooks him.

He's very sure-footed.

- [Officer] So a lot of the training for the new horses is on-the-job training.

And then we also do training in the indoor arena here.

(gentle music) - So the foundation is named MPD, Mounted Patrol Foundation.

We are here solely to the support with the horses.

The foundation was started in 2019, with the mission to be able to help supplement the funds that do come from the budget for the city of Milwaukee.

We help with anything from even supplying simple things, like treats for the horses to training materials.

So the foundation's goal and mission is to be able to help foster community engagement.

People coming in those urban areas are not used to seeing horses.

And if they are, they're used to maybe seeing a pony or something smaller.

And these are really big, wonderful, giant draft horses that are fantastic to see in the middle of the inner city and the urban areas around the city of Milwaukee.

And bringing them positive interactions with the police department.

(gentle music) - It takes a team, in one word.

But it takes a lot of energy.

It's a lot more hours and time than I predicted.

(gentle music) So we're able to acquire horses directly from donations, and that's really where we thrive.

But we also wanna ensure that this unit stays in forest forever.

There's definitely some restraints with budgets and we're here to supplement that and help that and make sure the unit stays and then also grows as well.

(gentle music) (indistinct chatter) - Their true passion is to make life better for the horses and for the officers on the unit.

And so without them, I don't think we would be able to operate the way we do.

(gentle music) (people laughing and chattering) (gentle music) - Hi, I'm Traci Neuman.

- And I'm Brian Ewig.

And we're the producers of "My Wisconsin Backyard."

- You can watch more of our stories and other great local stories.

- Oh, and don't forget other PBS favorites, by downloading our PBS app.