The Portland Police Bureau has received information from the Bureau of General Services and the Portland Development Commission (PDC) concerning evolving structural problems of the Centennial Mills building located at 1362 Northwest Naito Parkway.
The Portland Police Bureau’s Mounted Patrol Unit has been housed inside the Centennial Mills building since 2001, and a specific area of concern is the location where the horses are stalled.
The Mounted Patrol Unit is ever vigilant for the safety of the horses and personnel who work in the building and therefore has decided to move the horses to an offsite location until we can be assured the safety of the building. The horses have been moved and are housed at Narnia Farms in Aurora, Oregon, approximately 22 miles away from the MPU Facility.
The Mounted Patrol Unit will continue to operate out of the Centennial Mills location, although the horses will be trailered in each day for work. The Police Bureau is working with PDC to assess the future stability of the location and their plan to address the structural problems and safety concerns.
The Mounted Patrol Unit was established in 1979, and currently has 8 horses, 4 officers, 3 non-sworn staff and 1 sergeant assigned to the unit.
In an average month the officers on horses contact about 1,800 citizens, primarily in the Downtown core and Old Town areas. In addition to its primary patrol function, the unit is also available to participate in special events and crowd control details throughout the City of Portland.
To learn more about the Mounted Patrol Unit, visithttp://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/250328
You can follow the Mounted Patrol Unit on Twitter at @PPBMPU or visit the Facebook page for the Friends of the Mounted Patrol,https://www.facebook.com/saveportlandsmountedpatrol
Media Relations:
Sgt. Pete Simpson
Peter.Simpson@portlandoregon.gov
Desk: 503-823-0830
Pager: 503-790-1779
Portland Police Bureau
1111 SW 2nd Ave, Suite 1526
Portland, Oregon 97204
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