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Police Animals Ordinance <br />April 3, 2018 <br />Page 2 <br />The Mounted Unit consistently receives positive feedback from the community and is an added <br />resource to the Department's community policing program. In 2017, the Mounted Unit was <br />deployed on 169 assignments. Each shift worked by the horse teams lasts up to eight (8) hours <br />or more with two (2) horses deployed for each shift that equates to approximately 2700 hours of <br />active service for Santa Ana. <br />During their service to the City, police personnel have witnessed a wide range of acts against <br />police service horses including the following: bottles thrown at the horses, individuals purposely <br />kicking the horse's legs, taunting, screaming, striking the horse on its hind quarters, and other <br />actions with the intent to spook the horses. While these events are not a daily occurrence, a <br />frightened or hurt animal can cause injury to itself, the mounted officer, and place the public in <br />harm's way due to the malicious actions of others. <br />The City has evaluated the needs and concerns as it relates to the Mounted Enforcement Unit, <br />and in particular, unlawful actions taken against the horses. In doing so, the City has determined <br />the municipal code currently only addresses unlawful actions against. the City's police canines. <br />The City has determined the current code section requires revision to enforce willful, malicious or <br />harmful actions against the police horses that proudly service this community. <br />Specific amendments made in this revision include: <br />Article 1. In General, Sec, 10-152 — Unlawful Acts Toward Police Animals <br />(a) No Person shall willfully or maliciously tease, harass, agitate, provoke, beat, strike, kick, <br />disable, injure, kill, administer or disperse any desensitizing drug, chemical or substance, or in <br />any way interfere or meddle with, any police animal. <br />(b) As used in this section, "police animal" means any dog, horse or any other animal utilized by <br />the police department or any officer or employee thereof, in the performance of any function or <br />duty of said department, officer or employee. <br />STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT <br />Approval of this item supports the City's efforts to meet Goal #1 - Community Safety; Objective <br />#5 (provide high quality Police and Fire/Emergency Medical Services response within the City of <br />Santa Ana). <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. <br />Ch�leof Police <br />Santa Ana Police Department <br />50A-2 <br />