Officers on horseback will be used for crowd control, missing person searches, police chief says

"They are definitely going to be deployed when needed. Not for every protest, but when needed."

Published Sep 23, 2024  •  1 minute read

Mounted police from Toronto assisted with ending the February 2022 occupation. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs said officers on horseback will be used to control demonstrations and to help search for missing people in the city’s vast parkland and rural areas.

Stubbs announced plans for the new mounted unit last week and elaborated while speaking to reporters before Monday’s Ottawa Police Services Board meeting.

“Obviously a mounted unit is very useful when it comes to major events, when it comes to protests,” Stubbs said. “There are a number of police agencies in Canada that have them and they’re very beneficial in managing a lot of protests. They are definitely going to be deployed when needed. Not for every protest, but when needed.”

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A troop of eight mounted officers from Toronto were in Ottawa in February 2022 when police moved in to end the three-week occupation of the downtown core. The mounted unit was deployed twice to clear space between the police line and demonstrators.

Mounted units have also proved their worth patrolling rural or forested areas, particularly in searches, Stubbs said.

“They’re very helpful. As you know, we have lots of large parks, a (large) rural area and a number of missing people. A mounted unit can get around a lot quicker and a lot easier, and with their height have the potential to see missing people.”

The mounted unit would also be used for proactive patrols, he said. “It’s not just for the the ByWard Market. You’ll see this mounted unit on Wellington, on Sparks, in different parts of the city — and in the ByWard Market as well.”

Stubbs did not say how much it will cost for the mounted unit, which is expected to be on patrol next year.

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