Best Addition to Urban Life
Kansas City, Mo., Police Mounted Patrol Section
Eleven of Kansas City's best crime fighters live in a pretty blue barn, deep in the woods of Swope Park. The police department's mounted patrol section galloped into action earlier this year. Sgt. Kim Hannan says supervising the horse unit has been the most positive experience in her 30 years on the force. "Everybody loves you," she says. Police horses produce more than an emotional response; they're effective at crowd control, and they help shrink the distance between the police and the people who can help them solve crimes. "They'll use the horses to come up and give you information," Hannan says. Working with the parks department, the patrol also gives kids riding lessons.