Posse Events
The Posse is involved in many events throughout the year. Some of the events are for fun and entertainment, some of them are to assist the Sheriff, and some of them accomplish both. Since the Posse is strictly volunteer and not funded by the Sheriff's Department, the Posse members collect donations from numerous businesses throughout the area and have various fundraisers to raise money to buy supplies.
Annual Dinner Dance
Early each year the Posse holds its annual dinner dance. Everyone is invited to attend, whether they are affiliated with the posse or not. Tickets are sold in advance and local businesses donate goods to be auctioned off. Attendees are encouraged throughout the night to purchase raffle tickets either for the donated items or for the 50/50 raffle that is held at the end of the evening.
There is a different theme each year, such as "Valentine's Day" or "Mardi Gras". There is always good food, camaraderie, and lots of dancing to the live band. Items like TVs and pocket watches are raffled off and the winner of the 50/50 raffle has been known to take home over $400!
The Posse members work hard each year to make the dinner dance event a success. It has become a favorite for many in the community, and is a wonderful way for the posse to raise funds.
Parades
The Sheriff's Posse was started in 1964 to aid in public relations between the Sheriff's Department and the community. The way the Posse accomplished this was by participating in numerous parades throughout the county. Over the years, the Posse has participated in many parades and continues to do so even today. The parades still have their purpose, as they did when the Posse began, but the horses and riders enjoy parading downtown just as much as the spectators love to watch them. The Posse's Mounted Unit has graced the streets in many different cities, like Byron, Bancroft, and Morrice.
Both horse and rider are proud to carry flags, whether it be the American flag, the Michigan State flag, or the Shiawassee County Sheriff's Posse flag.
Pony Express Ride
The Pony Express is a fundraiser in which posse members from around the state sell official stationary for a donation. The donation is used to help someone, usually a child, with a life threatening illness. It is sponsored by the Michigan Sheriff's Mounted Association (MSMA) and is hosted by a different county each year the second weekend in June.
Each horse and rider team carry a mailbag that contains the letters written on the official stationary. They ride for one mile and then hand it off "Pony Express" style (on the run) to the next horse and rider. This process continues until each member attending the ride gets a turn carrying the bag.
The recipient of the donations is nominated and voted on by the entire membership in March. In 2005, the Pony Express ride generated over $8,000!
There is also an obstacle course, a parade, and a horse show that take place during the same weekend.
Spring Shoot
The Michigan Sheriff's Mounted Association (MSMA) sponsors a spring shoot and each year there is a different county chosen to host this event. Often times the shoot is held at the Shiawassee County range facility. A lot of effort and planning goes into the shoot to make sure it is successful. The Posse members enjoy this competitive event no matter where it is held.
Shiawassee County Fair
The Posse's main purpose at the fair is to provide security on the grounds. Mounted members patrol in pairs on horseback in the evenings, and all members provide security on foot and with golf carts.
Volunteer Work
The posse will fingerprint children at different events throughout the year. Depending on the event, they sometimes fingerprint anywhere from 100 to 200 children. To read more about fingerprinting, click here.
Posse members also put on demonstrations for local students. They show the kids how much time and training they spend working with their horses. Since instinctively horses are creatures of flight, it takes a lot of time and effort to gain the amount of trust required to be a police horse. The children are shown how the horses could master an obstacle course and knock over barrels because he had learned to trust in his rider. The children are allowed to pet the horses and they also give out souvenirs.
