Seattle police to continue horse patrols

Donations have saved the police department's mounted patrol from budget cuts.

The city wanted to eliminate it last year, but the non-profit Seattle Police Foundation stepped in and promised to finance it until 2014 with support from the Seattle Hotel Association.

The fund-raising campaign was boosted last month with a $135,000 contribution from Expeditors International, the freight logistics company.

The Seattle Times reports the unit has seven horses that are kept as stables in a West Seattle park. It cost about $165,000 a year for the housing, veterinary care and horse feed. The unit's sergeant, five officers and a civilian worker are city employees.

Sgt. Grant Ballingham says horses are especially helpful in crowd control.