Mounted unit saved (for now)
Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon at the Southern District police station on Cherry Hill Road to announce additional funding for the foundering police equesterian unit.
I'm told the department has raised enough money -- roughly $100,000 -- to keep cops on horses for at least one more year. Budget cuts nearly ended one of the oldest police mounted units in the country and the department sought donations.
Groups and individuals sent in money to a private police foundation, though officials made it clear they were looking for something akin to a corporate sponsor. It's unclear whether that came through. One little girl in Baltimore County -- 9-year-old Sophia Litrenta, pictured here -- even held a bake sale and donated the proceeds; another community crime group raised money by plaing police in football.
It's still not too late to donate:
For anyone who wants to donate, here's how:
Laurie Crosley is the main point of contact at the Baltimore Community Foundation for the Police Foundation. Donations can be mailed to her at:
Baltimore Community Foundation
2 E Read St # 9
Baltimore, MD 21202-6903
Checks should be made out to: Baltimore Community Foundation, Police Foundation Fund. The cover letter or check should specify that the funds are to used to support the Mounted Unit. The phone number there is: (410) 332-4171.
Comments
Good news for Mounted Police supporters: A separate Baltimore Police Mounted Unit Fund at the Baltimore Community Foundation now makes it easier than ever to donate to help keep the unit going. www.bcf.org/mountedunit
Thanks to all who have contributed!
Posted by: Gigi Wirtz | December 1, 2009 12:49 PM