News

Horseback chief retires

Wallace Mooney, chief of the sheriff's mounted patrol, retired after 16 years of work on horseback.

By Bill Moss, Published: November 13, 2015

Wallace Mooney, longtime director of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol, is retiring from his post at the age of 75, after serving on horseback for 16 years, the sheriff's office announced.

“Wallace has been a great supporter of the mission of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office over the years,” said Sheriff Charlie McDonald. “We appreciate the leadership role he has held and we wish him the best.” A ceremony was held to celebrate Wallace’s years of service at the Hendersonville Elks Lodge. The Sheriff, members of the command team and Mounted Patrol volunteers were in attendance.

Wallace, director of the mounted patrol since 2002, has always had a love of horses. He grew up on a tobacco farm in eastern North Carolina before tractors were commonplace and has been driving and riding horses his entire life. Even at the age of 2, his father would sit him on their farming mules as they were working. Over the years, Wallace has driven carriages for the Biltmore Estate and served with the Alabama Mounted Patrol. He is also an ordained Lutheran minister.

Although he is retiring from his role as the Mounted Patrol director, he doesn’t have any plans on slowing down. He currently works at Kenmure with Universal Protection Services providing security for residents and continues to ride horses every week with his grandson.