you are in: Events > During the Fair > Toronto Police Mounted Unit

Toronto Police Mounted Unit
at Markham Fair

As Toronto grew in the late 19th century the traditional police foot patrols could not provide adequate police service to the new neighbourhoods. In 1886 the Toronto Police purchased their first four horses and formed a Mounted Unit to provide patrols to the suburban areas. The horses enabled police to patrol to the furthest outlying districts of the city.
Vehicular traffic increased rapidly as the city grew. The new Mounted Unit was tasked with enforcing speed and traffic regulations. These officers were also specially trained to stop runaway horses. They saved countless citizens from injury or death by stopping teams of out of control horses, many still dragging wagons behind them, with or without their owners!
Gradually, motorized vehicles replaced horses on Toronto's streets. By the 1930's many other North American cities had disbanded their mounted units. The Toronto Police Mounted Unit however, was increased in size. Fortunately, Toronto police commissioners recognized the value of the horse in crowd control situations, in providing high police visibility and in transporting officers through parks and other areas inaccessible to vehicles, in all weather conditions.
In 1957 the formation of the new Metropolitan Toronto Police Force broadened the Mounted Unit's territorial responsibilities. New stables were constructed. A horse trailer and truck were purchased to quickly move officers and their mounts wherever they might be needed in this newly expanded jurisdiction.
Today, the Mounted Unit is in higher demand than ever. There is no more effective crowd management tool than a mounted officer on a horse. These 24 highly trained horses and 35 skilled officers provide unparalleled visibility and control at demonstrations and special events. They are invaluable in searching Toronto's extensive parklands, bush and rough terrain for missing or wanted persons. These versatile teams can also be seen enforcing traffic regulations in the downtown core.

See Glenn Ottaway at Markham Fair from October 1 to 4, 2009.