Photo credit: Lancaster City Bureau of Police
The Lancaster 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 elimination of the unit was described as cost as related by Sorace. “The Bureau understands the sentimental 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 currently in a significant workforce deficit while anticipating additional 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.”
The department is approved for 145 police officers, but currently has just 115 on staff to respond 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 coverage 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 related costs such as feed, veterinary care, farriers, etc. are paid by the Lancaster City Police Foundation. The non-profit foundation fundraises for police needs and has provided 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 engineering for the barn that we didn’t need to spend,” Glazier said.
The Foundation, which has been raising funds for the mounted unit since the mid-2000s, also supports other facets of the police department including the Canine Unit, and provides police training and equipment the City could not normally afford. They have also provided dress uniforms for the mounted officers to use when they were a part of an honor guard at funerals.
“The Foundation pays for everything and anything we buy. We donate those to the city, so the city actually owns all the horses,” Glazier said.
Mounted units are used for regular downtown patrols, plus they are assigned to crowd control at events and large gatherings. Without them in this role, the department is turning to modern technology. “We are looking at our drone program, which would be key to large events,” Police Chief Richard Mendez said at the press conference.
Mounted units are also known for their value in community relations. “The mounted Unit was a leading force in building long lasting relationships within the community through events, patrolling the Downtown Investment District and serving as a friendly representative of the Bureau,” Mendez said.
Glazier noted that the unit has been involved in a wide range of events, including those outside the City. The unit has been able to assist with policing when requested by other cities such as the G7 Conference in Pittsburgh. They also attended public events like Horse World Expo in Harrisburg.
“Law enforcement is more than just arresting people who commit crimes. It’s building a rapport with the community, including the broader community,” Glazier said. “I hope the city leadership is creative in thinking of other ways to build rapport between citizens and police officers.”
The public reaction to the announcement has been a combination of shock and sadness. “People in the community are sad and some are upset. Everybody loved seeing the horses. The horses are very engaging but how the city deploys their officers is a decision they are entitled to make,” Glazier said. “I’m sad about this because of the support the community has given.”
“The Bureau is sad to say goodbye to the mounts. They will make great additions to loving and well experienced families,” Mendez said. The exact details of future plans for the horses had not been announced as of press time.
As of October 13, a petition to keep the mounted unit had garnered 1,200 signatures.