Miami Beach officials propose adding a horseback patrol unit by 2028

Miami Beach officials are floating a proposal to add a horseback patrol unit to the city s police department. The mayor of Miami Beach, Steven Meiner, is at the head of this proposal focused on deterring crime, alongside the city s police chief. It s gonna be heard in finance, let s get it to commission, Meiner said in an October commission meeting. But at least one commissioner is pushing back against the idea. We can t be supporting vanity projects for the police and the mayor on mounted police patrols in Miami Beach, said Commissioner David Suarez. It certainly seems like a vanity project. While Suarez criticized the proposal in a recent newsletter, Meiner and Police Chief Wayne Jones say they want cops mounted to help patrol large crowds by 2028, assuming they can secure the funds needed. The mayor argues the project actually is saving money. Meiner shared that it is yet to be determined whether funds for the project would come out of the city or police