Comments

1
That was a pretty stupid decision, I must say. I thought ridding the PPB of the mounted patrol was a good thing.
2
Me too. Sounds like he's still bending to Rosie.

I also happen to believe that mounted patrol in an entirely urban city is ridiculous. As stated in the article, converting that to bikes would save boatloads, and it would also probably be much more effective in apprehending criminals. Bikes tend to be a bit more nimble than horses. Plus, you can pick it up and run with it over obstacles, through mud, etc. Not so with a horse.
3
Horsies = intimidating.

Have for centuries. I'm not so sure it's worth keeping them but they can provide more effective crowd control than some cops on bikes in short shorts can.
4
@ Bronch -

Don't be so sure of your last sentence. I'm a pretty accomplished horse rider and can just about guarantee I could get a horse to go through a lot more crap than a guy on a bike. They're incredible animals. I'd take a horse over a bike any day, and I like cycling.

But I agree with everything else. ;)
5
What the cops really need is more help with intimidating.
6
Back in the day Nixon's flaks would have said, "inoperative."
7
I think Adams is onto something here. Say you're going to cut something, let a private person / group provide the money to keep it going, and then reinstate it. Services without us having to pay for it... Can we try that with schools next? Or maybe filling the tiny and harmless potholes that some people seem to get insanely passionate about?
8
andres for Comment of the Week.
9
I think the Mounted Patrol is good outreach. I work downtown and I'm always surprised at the amount of normals, homeless, weirdos, tourists, etc. that actually end up talking to an officer just because they want to get a better look at their horse. Bikes are cheaper, but the PPB can really use that kind of goodwill.

Also, I actually saw two cops on horseback responded to a call and apprehend a guy; those horses can fucking move.
10
My dog loves watching the horses when we're out walking. That's worth a million bucks to me!
11
I agree with Khris. They are good for police - citizen relations. And aren't they still cheaper than patrol cars?
12
"Added bonus: bikes don't shit on the streets."

I wouldn't mind the mounties shitting on the streets/sidewalks if someone cleaned it up. I've passed horseshit on the same stretch of Yamhill sidewalk outside Pioneer Place at least twice lately.
13
I should add I agree with the mounted patrol being a good outreach for the Police. When I worked downtown those guys were always great. The horses are intimidating to people who are doing something they shouldn't be doing and that's not bad. The cute little girl who wants to pet the horsies gets to pet the horsies and the nice Police officer tells her all about them and they aren't intimidating.
14
Nope, screw that. Police Officers can do just as much outreach on a bike. In fact, probably more since we live in Portland.

If these budget cuts on the mentally ill lead to more street people and thus more crime (which then raises even more costs), this choice will be a huge, unsurprising failure.

And even if it's not a failure, our cops on horse better have the guts to look each mentally ill street people in the eye and say sorry.
15
@ paul cone - we should replace most of the cars with horses. if they're so great lets expand the program citywide.
16
Don't you guys watch movies? If we get rid of the mounted patrol, the city is going to be overrun with banditos. And then who will rescue us? We'll just have to hope for some passing hero to ride through town and save the day.
17
Horse patrol is very hard to beat, I am an avid horseman and their is something about animals that really make a child smile and the bad guys run...
18
I am an avid horseman and animals are hard to beat when they make a child smile and a bad guy run,let alone crowd control as we have witnessed before, despite the anarchists that throw things at these fine animals..

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