Meet Patch: The New Orleans Police Department’s One-Eyed Miniature Horse With A Big Job

The newest member of the New Orleans Police Department is 15 years old and was born with one eye. He’s a miniature horse, and his job is to provide emotional support for the famous Percheron draft horses of the NOPD Mounted Unit.

Patch, as he is tentatively named, was recently donated to the NOPD Mounted Unit by COPS 8, a citizen-led non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the 8th District Officers. He was given to the unit after COPS 8 president Jessica Dietz learned how much NOPD’s new superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick loves horses.

The organization surprised Kirkpatrick with the noble steed during a press conference.

Patch is designated as Kirkpatrick’s horse and will represent the Mounted Unit at community events. 

"Not only will Patch be the superintendent’s friend and the unit’s new one-eyed mascot, he also has a very important job—being a companion to the other horses, reducing their anxiety and relieving boredom,” the NOPD said in a statement. 

“The horses already love him,” a NOPD representative told Southern Living. “His stall neighbor tosses grain to him over the wall at feeding time and you can often catch the horses nuzzling him when they are together.”

NOPD had a few ponies before Hurricane Katrina, but Patch is the first miniature horse to reside in the department stables.

Welcome to the force, Patch!