July 23rd, 2009

The Pinellas Park Police Department is honored to accept a patrol horse from the Boston (Massachusetts) Police Department.  Boston Police made a difficult decision to disband their mounted patrol unit, a unit that has been in existence since 1873, due to budgetary constraints.  Pinellas Park Police established their mounted patrol in 2002 and has progressively integrated horses into patrol operations.  Pinellas Park will be accepting the offer of one horse from Boston Police with the stipulation that if Boston Police reinstates a mounted patrol program they would have the option of recalling the horse back to Boston. 

The horse coming to Pinellas Park is a dark colored, 4 year old Percheron-cross named "Jasper".  The horse will be stabled in the city at a local boarding stable.  The mounted unit for Pinellas Park is primarily funded by private donations and the Pinellas Park Volunteers in Policing Association.   Jasper's feed and boarding costs, veterinary care and hoof trimming costs are all being donated by local businesses so operating costs to the city shall be very minimal.  Expenditures expected to be absorbed by the city will be the handling officer's salary for working, training and healthcare time, and those miscellaneous equipment costs that are not privately funded or funded by the VIP organization.   Other sources of funding that are available are federal grant funds and our Contraband Forfeiture Asset account.  There is no need to increase or change our current budget plan for the police department with the addition of this police horse because of the many other funding avenues we have available to offset the costs associated with this acquisition. 

Our police horses and our police volunteer posse have been well received by the community.  The horses provide our patrol operation with a unique capability of mobility, visibility and respect coupled with the friendly attraction and approachability that intrigues both young and old alike.  We thank the City of Boston for placing trust in us and welcome the addition of Jasper to our mounted patrol family.  We shall provide him the best home and care available as we prepare him to work as the newest member of the Pinellas Park Police Mounted Unit.

Captain Sanfield Forseth
Services Division Commander
Pinellas Park Police Department