Mounted Police Deploy to Balıkesir Coast for Summer Tourist Season

A mounted police unit from the Nevşehir Gendarmerie Horse and Dog Training Center (JAKEM) began patrols in Balıkesir's coastal districts of Ayvalık, Edremit, Burhaniye and Gömeç, as well as the Kaz Dağları region, for the summer season. The team comprises three trained horses – German‑bred Manas and Mete (born 2020) and a 2007‑born Gemlik horse named Yankı – and five gendarmerie personnel. Operating from a temporary horse base at the Küçükköy gendarmerie station, the unit will cover roughly 250 km of shoreline, forested and mountainous terrain that is difficult for motor vehicles. Over an expected three‑month period, the riders will conduct preventive security patrols, crowd‑control training and assistance for tourists in popular areas such as Sarımsaklı Beach, Badavut, Şeytan Sofrası and Tuzla, aiming to maintain public order and safety during the peak tourist influx.