Winter 2023-2024 Issue

Inside... Holiday Gift Guide … pgs. 8-15 The News East Coast Horse Owners Need To Know OUR TH YEAR 199 - PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 280 LANC., PA 17604 Vol. 30 No. 9 Winter 2023/2024 …and much more! (Continued on page 4) By Marcella Peyre-Ferry The Lancaster (PA) City Police Bureau will disband its mounted police unit as of Jan. 1. The mounted police unit was established in 1979 and was proposed by former mayor Albert Wohlsen. The unit consists of three full time and one part time officer and three police horses. The horses are draft and draft crosses Angus, Jake and King. They are stabled at Long’s Park in the city and cared for by city staff. The decision to disband the mounted unit, as well as the closing of Fire Station 6 was announced at a press conference Sept 28. “These decisions were not made lightly. I recognize that Station 6 and the mounted unit have a long tradition of service to the city of Lancaster. The Mounted Police Officers have been a positive force for the City of Lancaster for decades,” Mayor Danene Sorace said. The impetus for the elimina- tion of the unit was described as cost as related by Sorace. “The Bureau understands the sentimen- tal and symbolic value of mounted officers and appreciates the long lasting relationships,” she said. “The reality is that Lancaster City’s Police Bureau along with many others, is struggling to fill open (police) positions.” “Disbanding the mounted unit was not a cost decision but a staffing one because we are cur- rently in a significant workforce deficit while anticipating addi- tional officers retiring in the next few months,” said Stacia Korman, Communications Manager for the Lancaster City Bureau of Police. “Our department is focusing additional efforts on recruitment. If anyone is interested in a law enforcement career, they can go to our website, LCBPCareers.com.” Officer Scott McDonald on Angus (left) and Officer Greg Berry on King greet a boy in the city of Lancaster, PA. The mounted unit, a beloved part of the city of Lancaster since 1979, will disband on January 1 due to a shortage of officers, a move that was greeted with shock and dismay by many citizens. Photo credit: Lancaster City Bureau of Police Lancaster City Police Department Will Disband Mounted Unit The department is approved for 145 police officers, but cur- rently has just 115 on staff to re- spond to an average of 40,000 to 50,000 calls per year. Because of the manpower shortage, the city is expected to spend $900,000 in overtime this year to meet cover- age needs. With the closing of the mounted unit, those four officers may be reassigned to patrol units. The main expense to the city of the mounted unit is salaries and benefits of the officers, along with some staff hours spent caring for the horses. The horses and their re- lated costs such as feed, veterinary care, farriers, etc. are paid by the Lancaster City Police Foundation. The non-profit foundation fundrais- es for police needs and has provid- ed equipment for the mounted unit including a four-horse trailer. Angus is the most recent addition to the force, purchased about 10 months ago by the Foundation. All three horses are highly trained for their jobs. All three are black, standing between 16.2 and 18 hands. “They’re quite imposing, quite impressive, but also pettable. They are used to people coming up and petting them and talking to the officers about them,” said Mary Glazier, President of the Lancaster City Police Foundation. Not knowing that the future of the mounted unit was limited, the Foundation had already started the design process for a new stable for the horses. “We spent money for Older riders reap many rewards … pg. 22 Farm’s goodbye fundraises for African therapeutic riding program … pg. 28 Get ready for winter with advice from the experts...pgs. 16-20