MADISON, Wis. -- Horses have been used with great success to clear the streets after Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Oktoberfest in La Crosse. Now Madison police are saddling up for Madison's notorious State Street Halloween bash.
Last year, police were criticized for reacting slowly to vandals who wreaked havoc and looted downtown businesses last year.
Officers are training with horses this week at the Dane County training center. About 20 mounted patrols are set to work State Street on Halloween, News 3 reported.
This is the first time Madison police officers, Dane County deputies and state troopers have trained together for Halloween, and most have never worked with mounted patrols.
"(Horses) not designed to attack people," said UW Police Sgt. Edie Brogan. "We don't do the charge of the light brigade."
Wisconsin Capitol Police Lt. Greg Friedberg said a horse's size works to law enforcement's advantage.
"There's three-quarter of a ton right here coming at you," Friedberg said. "Physically, you can't stop the horse. He's going to go through. He's going to push his way in."
The horse's height also helps officers find people who may need help, said Madison Police Capt. John Davenport.
"People in the field last year who needed police couldn't see us," Davenport said. "It gets congested down there. That it's hard to see the officers, because we're at the same level as everyone else, but when you get officers on horseback down there, very easy to see them."
Instructors told News 3 each horse is worth 15 foot officers when it comes to moving people.
Those in the saddle can also communicate easier with revelers, police said.
"In the past, we've never really had an ending, a way to let people know the event is over," Davenport said.
This year to signal it's time for people to leave, police will use stadium lighting, making the 200 to 700 blocks of state look like mid-day. Then the horses will start a slow march.
All eyes are on law enforcement this Halloween.
"Each time in your career, there's a moment of truth, for us for the local law enforcement community this is a moment of truth for us," said acting police chief Noble Wray.
Six departments will join forces for the Halloween weekend, including for the first time Middleton police.
Law enforcement agencies say they will be ready for trouble all three nights of Halloween weekend -- Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
New Chief Announcement Coming
We may know who Madison's new police chief is by Thursday.
Police and Fire Commission attorney Scott Herrick told News 3 commissioners met Monday, and after being at an impasse for months, he now says members are moving along well.
Herrick said he is very confident an appointment will be announced soon.
State Street: No Bike Parking Allowed Oct. 27-Nov. 1 Copyright 2005 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved.
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