FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 13, 2024
Media Contact:
Chris Hendrickson, Communications Manager
Seattle Police Foundation
425-205-0328 ● chris@seattlepolicefoundation.org
Please help us purchase a new horse for the Seattle Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit
SEATTLE, Wash. – The Seattle Police Foundation is excited to launch a $15,000 fundraiser to purchase a new horse for the Seattle Police Department’s iconic Mounted Patrol Unit (MPU).
With its recent shift to SPD’s Relational Policing Unit, the MPU is deploying more frequently for emphasis patrols, neighborhood patrols, and community events. With the possible retirement of two of the Unit’s police horses on the horizon, it is more important than ever to work proactively to ensure that the MPU has the “horsepower” it needs now and into the future. As you know, SPD’s Mounted Patrol Unit is one of few remaining mounted units in the Pacific Northwest and is a treasured part of Seattle’s history and community.
Ongoing budget shortfalls preclude SPD’s ability to invest in new horses, so we are asking for the community’s help. Because of the time it takes to find and train an incoming police horse, the Mounted Patrol Unit needs to start the process now. Our goal is to provide continuity of service, so that the Unit is able to continue its community-building work without interruption.
The Mounted Patrol Unit is an incredible asset to the Seattle community and an excellent investment in public safety. There is no more effective community engagement tool than the horses of the MPU and the officers who ride them, providing 10 times the visibility and six times the community contacts as compared to vehicle patrols. From the moment their hooves touch the pavement, they are celebrated and embraced by those who live, work, and play in Seattle.
The Mounted Patrol Unit is woven into the tapestry of law enforcement in Seattle, and we want to keep it that way. Please help us raise $15,000 by February 29, 2024, to protect the future of this irreplaceable community legacy and help it flourish!
No donation is too small. Visit We Heart Horses to contribute to public safety in Seattle.
The Seattle Police Foundation raises support and awareness for the Seattle Police Department. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and have proudly served the men and women of SPD and the Seattle community since 2002. Please learn more about us on our website.
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