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ST. PETERSBURG — For years, the city's Police Department has patrolled downtown by car, on bicycles, even on Segways. Now they're adding horseback to the list.
A two-horse mounted unit is set to begin patrolling downtown Friday and Saturday evenings, and during special events, as soon as this weekend.
Police Chief Chuck Harmon and Mayor Rick Baker unveiled the new unit during a press conference Tuesday. The horses, Brooklyn and Jacob, were donated by the Boston Police Department, which recently disbanded its 12-horse mounted police unit as a cost-cutting measure after more than a century of service.
Although a mounted patrol offers certain public safety benefits, such as crowd control, Baker and Harmon made it clear that the main goal of the new unit will be to add a more impressive and inviting police presence downtown.
"Any time you increase awareness of the police being around it sends a message, to both law-abiding people and nonlaw-abiding people," Baker said.
City officials say they hope this presence will enhance downtown's appeal and ease any uncertainty that people might have about being out late on weekends.
There are some inaccurate perceptions about public safety downtown, Harmon said. "I think these two officers and these two horses will go a long way toward helping with that."
Although the horses were donated, the startup cost for a horse trailer, truck, saddles and uniforms was about $40,000. The horses will cost the department $400 each per month to be fed and stabled in Pinellas Park, and Harmon estimated the annual cost of both horses would be no more than $18,000.
The cost likely will meet some opposition amid citywide cutbacks, but Harmon was quick to point out that the new unit will be funded by the department's forfeiture fund, which is comprised of seized money and assets. The unit will not affect the current budget.
"This is not taxpayer dollars that we're talking about, this is money that we have seized from drug dealers and other criminals," he said.
The Police Department received the horses in August and has been training them and officers since. Officer Ron Try, 48, a police veteran, has partnered with Brooklyn, a 6-year-old, and Officer Jason Hughes, 32, is with Jacob, a 4-year old. Both horses are Percheron thoroughbred mixes.
Both horses spent about three years with the Boston Police Department and have undergone extensive training to help them cope with situations they might encounter, such as rowdy crowds or heavy traffic.
The two officers, who have had previous experience with horses, also have had extensive training, centered on controlling the horses and staying mounted. Ideally a mounted police officer never gets off of his horse during patrol, even while arresting someone.
The officers will be the city's first mounted unit since the 1920s. Hughes is excited to be working with his equine partner, Jacob.
"It's a dream come true," he said. "You get to do police work and ride a horse at the same time."
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