Oldest U.S. mounted police unit gets budget axe

BOSTON (Reuters) - The oldest U.S. mounted police unit is going the way of the Pony Express, brought down by a tough economy and a budget crisis in Boston.

The unit's 10 officers on horseback are a common sight at major Boston parks and historic sites, frequently photographed by tourists and deployed primarily for crowd control.

But after 150 years, police officials said they need to eliminate the mounted unit, a move city officials estimate will save some $700,000 for a city budget that has been strained by a 19-month long U.S. recession that has hammered tax revenue.

The 10 officers and their supervisor will be reassigned within the department, Police Commissioner Edward Davis said in a note to staff, while the 10 civilian staffers who cared for the animals will be laid off.

According to local press reports, five of the unit's 12 horses will be leased to the New York Police Department, which is maintaining its mounted unit. Some of the other seven horses will be going to another local law enforcement agency in Plymouth, while others will go to private owners.

(Reporting by Scott Malone. Editing by Jason Szep and Sandra Maler)