02-25-2006, 02:10 AM
It was a heartbreaking act of mercy that will likely never escape the memories of those involved. After a mounted police officer and his horse were knocked down in a hit and run Friday night, officers were forced to shoot the animal, which was enduring excruciating pain.
The tragic incident took place at Morningside and Kingston Road just before 7pm.
The officer was treated at the scene and according to Chief Bill Blair suffered cracked ribs and is recovering in hospital.
“There was a lot of commotion around the horse and the officers I guess did as much as they could. And then we all heard two loud gunshots,” said stunned witness Jane Evans.
Duane Simpson was in the immediate area when the unthinkable happened.
“Next thing I know they were flying in the air doing summersaults from the van hitting them, and me and my friend rushed over to help the officer and the horse and neither of them were moving.”
Witnesses say two police horses and their officers were crossing from the southbound side of the Lawrence to the northbound side when they were struck by a van going westbound.
Police located the abandoned suspect car, a dark coloured minivan, and found horse hair clearly embedded in the shattered window
The last time a horse had to be put down was four years ago.
“These horses mean a lot to us,” said Staff Insp. Bill Wardle. “No one would be in the Mounted Unit if they didn't like horses and it was difficult.”
Chief Bill Blair was quick to respond to the tragedy.
“This is a devastating incident for the officers involved and for all of our officers. We lost an important partner tonight,” he said.
“The officers of the Mounted Unit that had to experience this and make the very difficult decision to end this animal's suffering, they were devastated by the loss and it's a very serious offence and we're investigating this very aggressively.”
from cp24.com
The tragic incident took place at Morningside and Kingston Road just before 7pm.
The officer was treated at the scene and according to Chief Bill Blair suffered cracked ribs and is recovering in hospital.
“There was a lot of commotion around the horse and the officers I guess did as much as they could. And then we all heard two loud gunshots,” said stunned witness Jane Evans.
Duane Simpson was in the immediate area when the unthinkable happened.
“Next thing I know they were flying in the air doing summersaults from the van hitting them, and me and my friend rushed over to help the officer and the horse and neither of them were moving.”
Witnesses say two police horses and their officers were crossing from the southbound side of the Lawrence to the northbound side when they were struck by a van going westbound.
Police located the abandoned suspect car, a dark coloured minivan, and found horse hair clearly embedded in the shattered window
The last time a horse had to be put down was four years ago.
“These horses mean a lot to us,” said Staff Insp. Bill Wardle. “No one would be in the Mounted Unit if they didn't like horses and it was difficult.”
Chief Bill Blair was quick to respond to the tragedy.
“This is a devastating incident for the officers involved and for all of our officers. We lost an important partner tonight,” he said.
“The officers of the Mounted Unit that had to experience this and make the very difficult decision to end this animal's suffering, they were devastated by the loss and it's a very serious offence and we're investigating this very aggressively.”
from cp24.com
