Minneapolis Police Dissolved Mounted Patrol Unit
The department discontinued its mounted unit in August 2026 due to budgetary constraints.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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The Minneapolis Police Department officially dissolved its Mounted Patrol Unit at the end of August 2026. The move follows significant budgetary constraints that prevented the renewal of contracts necessary for continued operations.
Why it matters
The closure reflects a broader trend of police departments cutting specialized units to manage tightening fiscal resources. The department is now working to donate its horses to the Minneapolis Mounted Police Foundation.
The unit dissolution involved the reassignment of two full-time staff and 22 personnel who served as an additional assignment. Officials are now transitioning the horses to the Minneapolis Mounted Police Foundation.
The players
Minneapolis Police Department
This is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for public safety and policing within the city of Minneapolis.
Minneapolis Mounted Police Foundation
This organization is a local entity working to receive the donated horses from the now-dissolved patrol unit.
The details
The unit included one sergeant and one officer assigned full-time, alongside three lieutenants, six sergeants, and thirteen officers who served as an additional assignment. All personnel have been reassigned to other duties within the police department.
Timeline
St. Paul ended its mounted patrol program in 2019.
The Minneapolis Mounted Patrol Unit dissolution was effective at the end of August 2026.
Legal Context
The Minneapolis decision follows the pattern established by the 2019 St. Paul mounted patrol program termination. This closure highlights a regional shift in municipal policing strategies as cities move away from maintaining specialized equestrian units.
Residents will no longer see mounted officers patrolling the city as personnel are moved to other police duties. This shift does not change the total number of police staff available to the public, but it alters the specific tactics used in local community engagement.
The takeaway
The dissolution serves as a reminder that local police departments are increasingly forced to prioritize core services amid financial limitations. Citizens should expect continued reallocation of specialty unit budgets toward traditional patrol and investigative assignments.
Further reading
For more on department operations, visit Law Enforcement.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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