Outnumbered only by the units in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., 'Boston's Finest' currently employs 60 officers and 70 horses. During 1979, the unit made more than 300 arrests, gave out 43,000 parking tickets and over 2,500 moving violations, handled at least 100 special events, and answered a minimum of 50,000 radio calls. The city's police department acquired its first horse in 1873 and, with 27 others purchased in the following year, introduced horse patrols into the alleys of the prestigious Back Bay area. After the introduction of automobiles in the early 1900's, a 10-man to 12-man mounted unit was involved primarily in crowd control and ceremonial functions. However, in 1979, the city decided to expand both the unit and its responsibilities. The goal was to sent the mounted police into neighborhoods that demanded visible police protection. In addition, mounted patrols could help improve public relations because a police officer is more approachable on a horse than in a cruiser; this puts the police back into touch with the neighborhoods they are assigned to protect. Mounted patrols cost less than cruisers to purchase and maintain: a police horse, which averages 10 years of service, cost from $800 to $1,000 and requires about $1,200 for upkeep (including veterinarian, blacksmith, and food fees). At present, mounted patrols cover 60 beats in neighborhood and business districts, both day and night. Although the city has not conducted a formal study, police authorities estimate that the patrols have been responsible for a significant reduction in street crimes; the public response has been overwhelmingly favorable. Photographs and anecdotes are included.