ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Police Department needs help naming its newest member of the Mounted Patrol Unit.

Rochester students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to enter RPD's “Name that Horse Contest." The winner will receive a new iPad.

What You Need To Know

  • The RPD's Mounted Patrol Unit started in 1977

  • The new horse is a 5-year-old Clydesdale-Paint horse

  • Rochester students K-8 can submit name ideas online

The RPD's newest member is a beauty and a brut. He's a 5-year-old Clydesdale-Paint and needs a name.

“The visibility of a patrol officer on a horse is undeniable and the optic is always friendly,” said Frank Camp from the Rochester Police Department. “We are honored to be partnered with the Lawson Cohen family, the Rochester City School District, the Office of the Mayor and the Rochester Police Foundation for this contest to engage the children of Rochester to help us find a name for our new horse.”

The soon-to-be-named horse is now part of RPD’s Mounted Patrol Unit of five horses with four full-time officers. The unit has been around since 1977. The horses are a community connection.

“I have been in the unit for 12 years,” said RPD officer Don Urbancyzk. “He is doing really well. He loves the community and is always curious and interacts with them. He is great with the kids and always curious and introduces himself. He will come right up to them and says hello.”

To enter the “Name the Horse Contest,” Rochester students K-8 can submit name ideas online to: RPDmountedunit@cityofrochester.gov. The deadline to enter is May 31. Entries will be judged by the officers of the Mounted Patrol Unit.