06/21/2009 BOSTON -- Boston police officers assigned to patrol on horse are angry Thursday because they say their final rides were canceled.
The 150-year-old mounted unit, the nation's oldest, disbanded recently to save money. Wednesday was supposed to be their last day of duty.
Officers said someone from the mayor's office called at the last minute ordering that the horses stay in the barn, the Boston Herald reported.
"It is only the 17th of the month and there is another 13 days left in the month. To be the last ride -- what are those officers going to do from the 17rth to the 30th?" Mayor Tom Menino said.
The Boston Police Department called it a postponement and that the decision to cancel the final ride was made by the department, not the mayor.
It's still not clear when the unit will actually stop patrolling the city.
The City Council is still weighing options that could save the unit.
