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Home > Blogs > West Chester News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > January > 22 > Entry
Riding off into the sunset
I heard yesterday from a member of the Friends of the West Chester Twp. Mounted Patrol, who said she had been told the local unit was being disbanded.
Susan Lora, a horse trainer and a member of the Friends, said officers had told her the four-member unit would be dissolved within the next two to three weeks.
This evening, Jan. 22, I spoke with West Chester Twp. Chief Erik Niehaus.
He confirmed the unit is, in fact, being disbanded, although he said it’s likely to occur sometime during the first quarter. He was not completely sure when the transition would take place.
Niehaus, who has been considering the move to disband the unit ever since he was chosen to replace John Bruce last month, said the reasons for reassigning mounted patrol officers is two-fold: Financial and adapting the department to the community’s needs.
First, Niehaus said it costs taxpayers approximately $400,000 to run the mounted patrol, which includes salaries, benefits of officers, amount of boarding animals and the overall operation of the unit.
And, given the current state of the economy, Niehaus said it’s ever more important to be efficient with the department’s budget, all while trying to maintain consistent coverage of a continuously growing community.
Niehaus said he wants “a more traditional patrol operation.”
“I’m looking for ways for our patrol to meet our needs … ” he said. ” … And fiscally, I think it’s the responsible thing to do.”
“I can be more effective by putting (officers) in the cruisers.”
He also said the department is looking at other creative community policing assignments, such as bike patrols, which have been effective in cities like Fairfield.
Still, “It wasn’t easy for me,” Niehaus said. “This wasn’t taken lightly.
“They work hard,” he said of the officers in the mounted patrol. “It was hard to make this decision because they’re such good people.”
They’re also apparently good riders as well.
A while back, I ran a story about the mounted patrol being selected for several awards during a national competition last fall.
Here’s that story.
Thoughts?
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: West Chester Twp. Government
Comments
By dlh
January 23, 2009 6:12 PM | Link to this
I think someone needs to do the math about the mounted patrol costing four hundred thousand dollars. It is a shame to see mounted patrol go after all of this time and after all they have done. I am proud to tell people that come to West Chester about the mounted patrol and it makes our community an even better place for people to want to live in. I have seen the affect it has on the children of our community and their relationship towards police officers. A lot of kids are afraid of police officers and they have made the kids feel more comfortable with police officers. They have also played a huge part in making our community a safer place to live. I am really sad to see the West Chester Mounted Patrol go and really wish the township would reconsider.
By West Chester watcher
January 23, 2009 8:02 PM | Link to this
Wake up, this is 2009, we pay taxes for protection and don’t need horses for community shows to make children feel better. The last post probably made money off of the deal and that is why they are so sad to see them go.
By Rick
January 24, 2009 5:58 AM | Link to this
Since the officers are being reassigned and, therefore, their costs aren’t going away, the only relevant savings are the boarding of the horses and any special operating needs of the unit. I wonder what that dollar amount is?
By Tim Savaglio
January 24, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this
The patrol is used at High School Football Games, at the annual event at Union Center, and around areas that are hard to patrol by cruisers. It is highly visible policing. Disbanding this unit is a bad idea. This new chief is getting off to a very bad start.
By Sue
January 24, 2009 4:40 PM | Link to this
As I understand the REAL cost of the horses is $40K yr for all of them-perhaps they are getting a deal on the cruisers & the gas & repair to go along.
By null
January 29, 2009 3:37 PM | Link to this
If the new chief is trying to make a name for himself he starting off on the wrong foot, unless it is a bad name he wants. Those same officers would get paid salary and benefits whether they are on a horse or in a car. As far as bicycles go, I can see a bicycle cop chasing someone through a crowd honking their pee wee Herman horn verses a large horse jumping fences or running through a field. I think the bike would get stuck and the crowd would laugh at peddling and honking their horn. I don’t get anything from writing this except I appreciate the crowd control horses give plus they way they can contain a criminal. I don’t think a bicycle could hold them still. Get real, the only cost to the West Chester Dept. is 35-40 thousand which is the cost of a cruiser. Let’s see, hay for horses verses gas for cruisers. Does our Chief know how to do math? I hope he is better protecting the community than doing his math.