Waging a battle to save the horse patrols
Supporters fear a rise in crime
The narrow paths and crooked corners of Boston's Victory Gardens were inviting territory for burglars and drug pushers when the cavalry rode in, literally, and the Boston Police Department's mounted unit began patrolling the area. Now gardeners are worried about crime returning if the historic unit is disbanded to save cash.
They are part of a large network of mounted-patrol enthusiasts, including horse lovers, neighborhood activists, and Boston history buffs, who have helped drive an online petition to save the program. It had garnered nearly 2,000 signers by yesterday afternoon.
And now City Council President Michael P. Ross and Councilor Stephen J. Murphy, who is chairman of the Public Safety Committee, say they want to save the mounted patrol, too.
Supporters of the city's 12-horse mounted patrol will urge city councilors to preserve the force today in a hearing at City Hall on the Police Department's budget, which calls for eliminating the unit as part of $6.7 million in savings in the coming budget year.
Though small, the city's mounted unit, established in 1873, has served in several high-profile roles: providing crowd control at rallies and parades, patrolling the city's parks and gardens, and serving as a tourist attraction and goodwill ambassador along the Freedom Trail. It is believed to be the oldest organized mounted patrol unit in the country, supporters say.
But faced with the prospect of laying off police officers to satisfy a mayoral mandate for deep cuts in all departments, Commissioner Edward F. Davis announced he was disbanding the unit, saving about $600,000. The officers in the unit will be redeployed to other divisions, but 10 civilian hostlers are set to be laid off and the horses sold or given away.
"We really hope to make the council understand what value this mounted unit brings to the city of Boston and show they're not just a picture-taking opportunity," said Nady Peters, a West Newbury resident and horse trainer who started the petition and plans to speak at City Hall today. "They are a very visible community relations tool, a crowd control tool and, more importantly, a public safety tool."
Longtime Fenway resident Fredericka Veikley said the presence of the horses at Victory Gardens, where she tends a 15-by-30-foot garden of tomatoes and flowers, has warded off criminals and cut down on burglaries and drug crimes.
"Because of the vantage point they have and the ability for horses to navigate in that uneven terrain of the parkland, they can go places where no other police patrols will go," Veikley said. "It's our view that the mounted patrols are a basic city service, and we don't view them as a frivolous adjunct that can be wiped out as a line item."
Disbanding the mounted unit was not an easy decision, said Boston Police Superintendent in Chief Robert Dunford.
"This decision was forced on us by the economic times," Dunford said yesterday. He said the tactical benefit of the mounted patrols can generally be replaced with strategically deployed foot and bike patrols.
"In certain situations, the horses are very effective, especially if you have a crowd that is passive but compliant," Dunford said. "Now, if you have a crowd that is very aggressive and violent, the horses are really a disadvantage."
The plan appears set for a strong challenge in the council, which must approve the budget.
Murphy said mounted patrols are the most effective tactic for crowd control. With the prospect of new sports championships looming, he said the city needs to maintain its mounted unit.
Councilor Maureen Feeney of Dorchester said she has heard from dozens of supporters of saving the mounted patrol. "We live in an historic city, and it's a tradition that is still appreciated," she said.
Ross said that while he fully understands the city's cash crunch, there are other, less essential city expenses that can be cut to salvage the mounted unit.
He said he also wanted to save the mounted unit of the city's park rangers from the budget axe, which the city's Parks and Recreation Department is planning to eliminate for about $100,000 in savings. The unit has eight horses.
"We have to be very careful about losing that icon that the city has come to be known for," Ross said. "I could find a million dollars I'd like to cut from this budget other than the horses, and, if need be, that's exactly what I'll do."
John C. Drake can be reached at jdrake@globe.com. 
