Government

The Woodlands Township has approved a shift to a Montgomery County Sheriff's Office mounted patrol, bringing commissioned deputies into a role currently filled by a civilian courtesy patrol.

The Board of Directors approved the proposal September 17 and authorized President and CEO Monique Sharp to negotiate and enter into a final agreement with Montgomery County, subject to legal review. The current Alpha & Omega mounted patrol contract expires December 31, 2026.

The plan calls for a Township-funded unit of one sergeant, six deputies and seven horses, with additional resources supplied by the Sheriff's Office. Mounted personnel would continue community engagement, event support and traffic and crowd-management duties while also carrying full law-enforcement authority.

What changes for residents and visitors

Sheriff's deputies have direct access to law-enforcement dispatch, communications and agency resources. Civilian courtesy patrol employees do not have the same powers as commissioned peace officers, even when private security personnel are licensed to carry firearms.

The Township also identified liability concerns with the existing arrangement, including patrols on privately owned properties where license agreements had not been completed. Under the proposed county model, responsibility for the horses' care, training and deployment would sit with the Sheriff's Office.

Startup investment and ongoing costs

Sharp's September 17 presentation described roughly $954,000 in startup capital costs, including horses, facilities and equipment. About $600,000 would come from money available because of delayed implementation of sheriff's pay parity, with approximately $354,000 from the Township's 2026 undesignated fund balance.

The presentation put proposed 2027 operating costs at about $1.37 million. Staff estimated annual savings of roughly $133,000 compared with continuing the existing provider at 387 hours per week with a 4% increase. That comparison concerns operating costs: the initial investment means the first year would cost more. Staff projected that savings could replenish the fund-balance contribution in about 2.6 years.

A transition in how mounted patrol is delivered

The existing Township contract funds 387 patrol hours weekly, equivalent to about 9.7 full-time positions. Alpha & Omega decides how those hours are distributed among its employees; the Township has clarified that it does not fund 35 full-time mounted-patrol jobs.

The board's action sets the direction for the transition while authorizing completion of the agreement. Residents can review the September 17 meeting and presentation for the discussion behind the change.

By Johnny Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Johnny Krenek has been connected to community news since childhood, growing up alongside the family business his parents founded—Krenek Printing. Today, he serves as Vice President and lead developer for My Neighborhood News, where he drives the digital experience and supports the team across a variety of technical and operational roles. He is passionate about building tools that help connect neighbors and strengthen communities.

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