History of the Posse


	The posse was started in 1964 to aid in public relations between the Sheriff's Department and the community. At that time, the posse's main function was to participate in parades and each member of the posse was required to have a horse. The posse started with 6 charter members and eventually grew to 18. This was the posse in 1964 with Sheriff Cliff Porter as its founder.



	From left to right:
	William Weidman, James Butcher, James Steadman, Ray Hood, Bill Robbins, James Fink,
	Robert Buckley, Ray Walker, Floyd Hoose, Kurt Porter, Al Bently Jr

	Standing:
	Sheriff Cliff Porter and Charles Swearengin



Throughout its existence, the posse went through many changes and many Sheriffs. In 1972 they had a Posse Queen. This would be the only year the posse would have a queen.Then, in 1988, when the Sheriff of Shiawassee County was A.J. Lajoye, the requirement for posse members to own a horse was removed.




	Parades, however, remained a very important part of the posse. The picture on the left was taken at one of the first parades the newly formed posse was involved in. The picture on the right is of the posse in 1991 at a parade held in downtown Durand.