Readers are expressing sympathy for the Baltimore Police Department's Mounted Unit, which could end its 121-year service at the end of September because of budget cuts. The department is seeking $200,000 in donations, preferably by a company, to keep the unit afloat after next month, when feed runs out (photo at left by The Sun's Barbara Haddock Taylor).

Here is a sampling of comments I got by e-mail:

Shame on Sheila Dixon and the city council for once again making a political pawn of the police's mounted unit. To cut the unit's budget to a level that it cannot survive is a crime! The unit has been representing Baltimore for well over a hundred years, bringing joy to children and adults alike, by being a pleasant surprise to downtown tourists, and in general bringing positive attention to the police department. The city can manage to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars saving a tradition like the Senator Theater, but not a crime fighting police unit?   Something is very wrong with the judgment of those at city hall! I hope ways can be found to continue this wonderful part of what makes Baltimore special. And I will also remember this stupid move by our politicians next time I vote! --- Mary DeWolfe

Dear Mr. Hermann, I read your excellent article in the Sun today (page 1) about the city's possible decision to eliminate the mounted police.  I live in Otterbein and there may be some interest in organizing some support for the mounted police.  Do you have any idea whom we should contact to find out about making a donation? Also do you recommend writing to the City Council about this, or is there some other organization that would be more appropriate? Thank you for any help you might provide in terms of information. --- Victoria Cass

And here's a sampling from the Baltimore Police Department's Facebook page:

Ashly Alexander: What a mistake!They should double the mounted patrol unit not make cutsmounted patrol unit not make cuts! Increasing the unit is a step towards "Greening" the police force!

Ian Hall: Without the mounted unit the 4th of July and New years eve at the harbor will be a lot harder to control and harder to shut down....think it over Sheila!

Ryan Cleckley: Wow sad story. If i had the extra 150G's right now I would totally donate it.

Michael C. Davis: It's a travesty. This is one of the longest running units in the entire country. Let's be known for something else other then being number one in homicides per captia

Elliott M. Robertson: Is there a unique advantage which mounted Police have over, say, patrol car, foot, or bicycle in keeping order or fighting crime?

For anyone who wants to donate, here's how: