Mobile mounted police head to Oxford for Ole Miss-LSU, Kiffin’s return

NewsA girl pets a police horse during a Brown Bag in Bienville concert in downtown Mobile on April 3, 2019.Mobile and New Orleans are sending mounted police officers to Oxford, Mississippi, to help patrol the city before and during Saturday night’s highly anticipated Ole Miss-LSU football game and the return of Coach Lane Kiffin to the university he left last year.For Mobile police, however, the trip is somewhat routine. It is part of a partnership between the Mobile Police Department and the Oxford Police Department that has spanned more than 15 years.In a statement Tuesday, Mobile police spokesperson Blake Brown said Oxford is one of “many law enforcement agencies across the Southeast” that Mobile assists throughout the year when requested. In return, Oxford police and other agencies travel to Alabama’s Port City to help during large-scale events such as Mardi Gras.The Mobile Police Department is sending five mounted officers -- police officers accompanied by horses -- to Oxford on Thursday to assist local authorities during what is expected to be a busy weekend. Oxford will be at the center of the college football world as No. 7 LSU visits No. 8 Ole Miss in the rivals’ first Top 10 matchup since 1962.The game also marks Kiffin’s return to Oxford after leaving Ole Miss for LSU during the Rebels’ College Football Playoff run last season.“There is real safety issues and stuff and people have a plan for that,” Kiffin said during a news conference. “It is what it is. I told the players today you don’t have anything to worry about … There’s so much so much attention and hatred on me, you just get to go play.”Brown said the mounted officers will remain in Oxford through Saturday night, working alongside local law enforcement agencies.He said the assignment also serves as valuable training ahead of the Carnival season, which begins in January.“This training is important because it allows other agencies to better prepare their officers for the sights and sounds along parade routes when riding a horse or maneuvering tight routes on a motorcycle,” Brown said. “These partnerships are beneficial and allow our officers to work in other areas, bringing back additional knowledge and skills that could be utilized right here at home.”The Mobile Police Department’s only expense will be fuel for the trip to and from Oxford, Brown said. Mobile will not receive compensation for sending the officers, though Oxford will provide lodging and meals for the visiting officers.John Sharp is a veteran reporter for AL.com covering the Alabama Gulf Coast, state politics, and key statewide issues. With 25 years in journalism, his work spans business, criminal justice, and cultural...