JewishByte Baltimore - On Sunday November 15th, the Northwest district of Baltimore City celebrated “Police Appreciation Day”. With over 2000 people attending the festivities of which the highlight was the flag football game between Shomrim and the Baltimore City Police Northwest District.

Mayor Dixon, Baltimore City Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld and Northwest District Major Johnny Delgado joined Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore City Councilwoman Rikki Spector, State Delegate Sandy Rosenberg, and Baltimore City Orphan’s Court Judge Karen Friedman at the annual Shomrim vs Baltimore City Police Department Northwest District flag football game at Northwestern High School. The event raised $21,000 for the Baltimore City Police Mounted Unit.  

“Today’s friendly competition highlights the collaboration and partnership of efforts between the Baltimore City Police Department and Shomrim to keep the citizens of the Northwest District safe and secure,” stated Mayor Dixon. “I want to thank Shomrim and Boost Mobile for their donations that raised $21,000 towards the Baltimore City Police Department’s Mounted Unit.”

Major Delgado, echoing the Mayor’s sentiments said “it was a great game, lots of fun. We played a close game, and the better team won.”

Shomrim beat the Baltimore City Police Northwest District today 24-21 in a close and competitive game that was full of good sportsmanship and mutual respect. The true victor of today’s event was the Baltimore City Police Department’s Mounted Unit who received $21,000 in much-needed funding. Shomrim donated $15,000 to the Mounted Unit and Boost Mobile donated $7,000.

Back in August city leaders slashed funds for the unit from $195,300 in fiscal 2009 to $46,900 this year, effectively cutting what is considered one of the oldest police mounted divisions in the country. “They are not going under on my watch,” Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III said in a statement.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the draft mix horses – Blacky, Butch, Barney, Buster, Binx and Bell – are up to date on veterinarian checkups and have shoes and enough corn, barley and oats to last another 50 to 60 days. They range in age from 5 to 24.

The 121 year old Mounted Unit, which is in danger of being disbanded because of budget cuts, is desperately struggling to raise the necessary funds ($200,000) for another year of service. The unit is the second oldest continuously operated police horseback program in the country, having been formed in 1888. For a full history on the Baltimore City Police Mounted Unit, click here.

Other activities for the day included, pony rides, carnival rides and Kosher food. The Baltimore City Police had a multiple equipments on display including, tactical unit, motorcycles, mobile command unit, helicopter and of course 2 of the Mounted Unit member horses.

Photos and Story by AJ Bulua – for JewishByte.info. He can be reached via email aj@jewishbyte.info .

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