Published May 31. 2022 11:03AM
An April 19 visit at Moravian Village by Bethlehem police officers Mark Kuntzman on Mason and Ryan Danko on Casper brought Mason face to face with Larry Heinrich, the man who funded his acquisition for the Bethlehem police department’s mounted patrol.
Heinrich explained that watching the mounted patrol in action at Musikfest drew his initial interest and it was then that he decided to fund a horse the next time one was needed. Heinrich was also impressed with the support and interaction that the mounted patrol unit experienced when families visited the unit’s stables in north Bethlehem.
Once Mason was acquired he underwent training and Heinrich checked up on him regularly. As Mason’s benefactor Heinrich was given an option to name the horse, but declined instead preferring to keep his existing name. The 5-year-old Mason was dedicated and introduced to the public in December 2021.
Heinrich introduced Mason to his neighbors at Moravian Village before taking a short ride across the street to the Market Street Cottages where more residents met the officers and horses near a community garden also funded by Heinrich.
When asked how he felt about supporting the community in this fashion the modest Heinrich replied simply, “It’s great.”
PRESS PHOTOS BY DANA GRUBB Officer Mark Kuntzman on Mason converses with Larry Heinrich, Mason's benefactor.
Larry Heinrich addresses Moravian Village residents explaining how he kept checking on Mason during the horse's training. More photos from the event appear on page A2.
ABOVE: A Moravian Village jitney with Larry Heinrich as a passenger is escorted by Officers Ryan Danko and Mark Kuntzman on their mounts Casper and Mason.
Larry Heinrich explains to Market Street Cottages of Moravian Village residents how his interest in the mounted patrol evolved and his decision to purchase Mason came to pass. Officer Mark Kuntzman rides Mason and Officer Ryan Danko rides Casper listen.
In addition to purchasing Mason for Bethlehem's mounted police patrol, Larry Heinrich has underwritten the cost of Larry's Garden, a community garden located in the Market Street Cottages of Moravian Village.
LEFT: Debby Morrison's grandson, Ryan, was able to score some inflatable horses during the mounted patrol's visit.
