Don't expect to see Trigger patrolling the streets of San Diego.
The city's police department is getting rid of its mounted patrol unit after 27 years on the urban streets. The officers' rides were recently auctioned off online for a total of $128,000, which will go toward staunching a $24 million budget shortfall.
Although the horse sale didn't raise much cash, sending Wam, Trigger, Junior and four others to the barn will allow the police department to fill badly needed field positions without additional hiring. That, the city predicts, will save $1.2 million per year.
Cutting 12 dogs from the city's canine-unit roster saved another $600,000. Seven were retired to live with their handlers, while two went back to vendors. The remaining pups were sent to the county sheriff's canine unit.
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