The newest addition to the New Orleans Police Department’s Mounted Unit now has her official name: Detroit Lady.
The name was selected by Strategic Staffing Solutions (S3). The Detroit-based company made a generous donation to the NOPD Mounted Unit and received the foal’s “naming rights.” Detroit Lady is a 75-pound, 3’6” tall filly born on April 9, 2017.
“Strategic Staffing Solutions proudly supports the New Orleans Police Department, the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation and the women and men of the Mounted Unit,” said Cindy Pasky, President and CEO. “We were fortunate to be able to support 1,300 law enforcement officials during the 2017 Muses Parade and today we invest in one of the department’s most important assets – a new foal."
“S3 is committed to the communities in which we do business and our core pillars of public safety and animal welfare,” added Paul Huxley, S3 Chairman. “New Orleans and the Mounted Unit are part of S3's DNA.”
S3 has a branch office in New Orleans and the company works with the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation (NOPJF) to recruit new officers for NOPD.
This isn’t the first time the company has shown its support for NOPD. During Mardi Gras 2017, S3 “adopted” all 1,300 law enforcement officers who worked the parade route via NOPJF’s Adopt-A-Cop program. Adopt-A-Cop provides officers on the route and in the city’s eight districts with the meals, snacks, and beverages needed to keep them going during the long days and nights of Mardi Gras.
“We love to give back to New Orleans in any way we can,” said Ariane Brennan, S3’s New Orleans branch manager. “Our city is special and we value the community and our traditions.”
New Orleans isn’t the only city to have police activities and outreach supported by Strategic Staffing Solutions. The company financially supports the care and feeding of the Detroit Police Department’s (DPD) Mounted Unit’s horses, and they also provided new, lighter and more effective bullet resistant vests for the dogs of the DPD K9 unit.
No word on what color jersey Detroit Lady will wear when the Lions come to town to play the Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome this fall.
The NOPD Mounted Unit is the beneficiary of another NOPJF fundraising program. Adopt-A-Horse offers corporations, organizations, and individuals the opportunity to “adopt” one of 13 NOPD police horses now available. The $2,000 tax deductible sponsorship will offset the costs of purchasing horses for the breeding program and for the equipment and training tools associated with getting the new horses street ready and outfitted properly.
Robert Meyer, owner of Louisiana Tree Company, was the first person to adopt a horse in the program, and he selected the 13-year old Gelding named Lurch. Meyer decided to participate because he has fond memories of working with horses when he was in elementary school, plus he wanted to support the police department. Meyer was adopted at birth so he believes adoption of any kind is important.
“My parents always said adoption is a wonderful, special thing,” said Meyer. “I picked Lurch because when I looked at all of the horses’ pictures, his face caught my eye – as if it was a sign. Plus he has a sweet tooth like me. I’m proud to be part of this program and I look forward to supporting it for a lifetime.”