Minneapolis Ends 30-Year Horse Patrol | Rochester Minnesota News

Rochester Minnesota News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Sep 19, 2026 · 2m

Minneapolis has bid farewell to its iconic mounted patrol — the last horseback police unit in the state — after 30 years of service, as rising costs and political pressure led to its retirement. Despite passionate supporters and a former chief’s pledge to keep the tradition alive, funding fell through due to council rules that blocked fundraising efforts. The horses, once vital for crowd control, community engagement, and PR, now await donation while officers are reassigned. Council members saw the unit as outdated and expensive, though many mourned its loss as a unique symbol of policing…