How Dover’s Community Keeps the Police Mounted Patrol Running Through Volunteers & Donations

How a Community Keeps Dover’s Mounted Patrol in the Saddle: A Story of Volunteers, Horses, and Heart

There are some stories that stick with you — not because of how unusual they are, but because of the quiet, steady impact they represent. In Dover, New Hampshire, one such story is the ongoing success of the Dover Police Mounted Patrol, a program that continues today thanks entirely to the dedication of volunteers, donations, and community support.

While most traffic stops are forgettable, as Officer Michelle Merch joked,

“If you're speeding, you're probably going to remember being pulled over by a horse more than you're going to remember being pulled over by a police car.”

Officer Merch and her patrol partner Joseph Capproni spend their days on horseback, patrolling the streets of Dover on behalf of the police department, but the survival of the Mounted Patrol isn’t funded by the city. In fact, for the past decade, it’s been the community itself — not municipal budgets — that has kept the program alive.

The Dover Mounted Patrol operates through donations from individuals, businesses, and local organizations. Each week, volunteers from across the Seacoast come to the barn tucked off Main Street in downtown Dover to care for the horses. Their work is hands-on: feeding, brushing, cleaning stalls, and taking the horses on daily rides.

Even though the police department can no longer financially support the program, the positive community impact is undeniable. The Mounted Patrol helps strengthen relationships between officers and residents, serves as a visible and approachable presence in the downtown area, and offers something truly memorable for the people who live and work there.

For this project, I had the opportunity to document the patrol’s work through both video and audio storytelling. The resulting piece features voices from across the community, including Officer Merch, volunteers, and Taylor residents who understand firsthand the role these horses and officers play in fostering connection.

Watch the full video to see how a small city and the dedicated residents continue to support a tradition that connects people, animals, and public service.