Jun 25, 2009 4:09 pm US/Eastern
BPD Horses Take Last Ride As Part Of Mounted Unit
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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The ceremonial last ride of the Boston Police Mounted Unit
WBZ
Boston police horses took their last ride Thursday as part of the Boston Mounted Police Unit, which has been disbanded because of budget cuts.
The ceremonial last ride took place Thursday on City Hall Plaza. Five of the department's horses will be going to New York City, four are destined for the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department and the other three will be returned to the people who donated them.
City leaders are talking through a plan to recall those horses, should Boston's finances improve.
"In the event that the financial situation turns around we will be able to rethink this very difficult and complex decision," said Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis.
Davis
announced back in March that the unit would be disbanded as part of budget cuts, and replaced with officers on bikes and foot patrols. Davis said the move would save about $600,000, including the elimination of 10 civilian horse hostler jobs.
"These are extremely difficult times when extremely difficult decisions are being made," he said Thursday.
In Boston, officers on horseback have been used primarily to patrol city parks and for crowd control.
Ever since the cut was announced, there has been a movement to save the 200-year-old Boston Mounted Police Unit. An
online petition has more than 2,500 signatures. City Council President Michael Ross and Councilor Stephen J. Murphy are among those fighting to keep the police horses.
"Please keep in mind that these horses have been put in a place where they will be safe, where they will be well taken care of and where they will still be able to practice their skills," Davis said at Thursday's ceremony.
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