2025 Ottawa Police Service budget includes funding for new mounted unit [Video]

The Ottawa Police Service expects the first four horses for the new Mounted Patrol Unit to arrive in the spring, as the service launches the new unit for specialized operations, crowd control and community engagement.

The 2025 Ottawa Police Service budget outlines the plan to spend $1.4 million a year for three years to launch the new Mounted Patrol Unit.  Funding from the Ontario and federal governments will cover the $4.2 million cost over three years for the unit.

Police say the new Mounted Patrol Unit will assist with demonstrations, police visibility in urban areas and search operations.

“Mounted officers not only serve as a visible crime deterrent and foster positive police-community relations but also play a critical role in specialized operations,” says the 2025 police budget. “Research has shown that officers on horseback are more effective in search and rescue missions, locating evidence and missing persons more quickly. This …