West Seattle scene: Police horses on Alki Beach

January 24, 2013 at 3:47 pm | In West Seattle news, West Seattle police | 22 Comments

When multiple reports came in two days ago of the Seattle Police Mounted Unit riding up and down SW Barton through Westwood and Fauntleroy, we noted that we usually only heard about one sighting a year, though the unit is based in West Seattle, at Westcrest Park in Highland Park. Now, just two days later, they’ve turned up on Alki Beach. Thanks to Kate Kaemerle for the photo!

22 Comments

  1. Oooh! Let me be the first to say it:
    POOP!
    Giant horsey litter box!

    end sarcasm

    Comment by westcoastdeb — 4:08 pm January 24, 2013 #

  2. Crowd control is obviously needed. I’m sure all the sand fleas and seagulls are totally out of hand. ha!

    Comment by Graysongirl — 4:15 pm January 24, 2013 #

  3. I love horses, but this is a silly, expensive public relations program that has little value overall. Someone’s pet project, not pun intended. Hire several more officers for that money.

    Comment by G — 4:57 pm January 24, 2013 #

  4. You can’t have dogs on the beach, but horses are ok…

    Comment by Doug — 5:03 pm January 24, 2013 #

  5. G – fyi, Seattle Police Foundation and citizen donations support the unit for most of its expenses of upkeep. Donated funds are strictly for that purpose and certainly not for hiring cops or even salaries.

    Talk/write to city council if you want more cops. Writing on the blog doesn’t cut it. Unless you are one of those whiner-do-nothing types…than whine as you must.

    Comment by Public says we pay and horses stay — 5:10 pm January 24, 2013 #

  6. any hopes that they are in ‘preseason’ training for the masses that flock to the beach in the summer?

    Comment by Annoyed of Alki summer — 5:20 pm January 24, 2013 #

  7. What a way to set an example allowing horses to be on the beach and poop as well, but you’ll get fined if your dog is in the sand. So typical, double standards.

    Comment by Alki Resident — 6:35 pm January 24, 2013 #

  8. They were in the Westwood Village parking lot the other day where they left humungous piles in two parking spaces.
    I guess they don’t have to worry about the poor schmuck who is stuck with the clean-up.

    Comment by old timer — 7:13 pm January 24, 2013 #

  9. OMG! Are you people really serious? Get a grip!

    Comment by scout 1 — 7:24 pm January 24, 2013 #

  10. I bet those horses loved it!

    Comment by shed22 — 7:48 pm January 24, 2013 #

  11. *Face palm* People, quitchyer whining!

    Comment by AJP — 8:43 pm January 24, 2013 #

  12. Had the same discussion on the photo two days ago. It’s now closed. – TR

    Comment by WSB — 8:52 pm January 24, 2013 #

  13. Do you people realize that the horses need training along with the riders? A officer and his/her horse can do more crowd control,traffic control than on foot. I hope your sarcasm remarks comes back and bites you, when at sometime in your life you will need this protection from these officers.

    Comment by mf — 6:16 am January 25, 2013 #

  14. They should take the ponies to roxhill park.

    Comment by DBM — 7:01 am January 25, 2013 #

  15. Nah, just scoop it into the nearest flower bed. It’s great fertilizer.

    Comment by datamuse — 8:02 am January 25, 2013 #

  16. I find it odd SPD would use horses for crowd control. Seem to me, mounting officers on elephants, giraffes or tigers would be more effective.

    Comment by Hoppy Daze — 9:51 am January 25, 2013 #

  17. The problem with that idea, Hoppy Daze, is that with the exception of the first of those (and even then, only Asian elephants really cotton to it), those animals don’t take well to being ridden…horses are tricky enough (and also terrified of elephants so you definitely don’t want to mix them up).
    .
    Unless you define “crowd control” as “widespread panic”…

    Comment by datamuse — 10:20 am January 25, 2013 #

  18. Hoppy Daze, how about camels? SPD Officers would have the added benefit of their mounts spitting at troublemakers! ;-)

    .

    Mike

    Comment by miws — 10:40 am January 25, 2013 #

  19. I like the tiger idea. Troublemakers would really take notice. (Of course, dismounting could be problematic for the officer!)

    Comment by BlairJ — 11:38 am January 25, 2013 #

  20. So has anyone asked why they were there? Seems to be missing from this article.

    Comment by Chris — 10:21 pm January 25, 2013 #

  21. Chris, probably training and acclimation. Horses are easily startled and taking them out to places where they can encounter people and get used to being out and about is important, especially for police horses who are often used for crowd control and PR.
    .
    miws: lol! Camels really are incredibly uncomfortable to ride, though…

    Comment by datamuse — 10:53 pm January 25, 2013 #

  22. God it’s just a picture people get a grip. I assume you just want them in their stalls. The utter lack of respect for SPD will be Seattle’s downfall- note Roxhill gangs of mini thugs attacking children. The horses are beautiful and they do a great job. Period.

    Comment by 2 — 11:53 pm January 25, 2013 #

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