Post by Administrator on Mar 13, 2006 16:48:23 GMT -5
www.canadafreepress.com/2006/edesk022706.htm
Editor's Desk
Death of police horse, Brigadier breaks hearts
By Judi McLeod
Monday, February 27, 2006
Brigadier, an 8-year-old prize-winning Belgian cross with the Toronto mounted police unit, was more legend than horse. Anyone who ever saw the noble creature moving along Toronto streets with his officer rider was an instant fan.
Brigadier was struck down in what police say was a deliberate hit and run on Friday, Feb. 24, 2006.
Constable Kevin Bradfield was injured along with his horse. Bradfield, who joined the mounted unit only last May, was thrown onto the open road and suffered broken ribs and neck and leg injuries.
The accident scene was charged with heartbreak of an unforgettable kind. The emergency task force unit had to be called in to shoot the horse as it lay helplessly on the road, suffering excruciating pain with two broken legs. In this real-life story with an unhappy ending, it was a tableau with some officers blinded by tears.
They knew that even in the execution of his last duty--being out on the road as part of a new policing effort to control drugs and gun crime--Brigadier, by taking most of the impact of the hit and run driver, saved the life of his rider.
These horses and their police officer riders are a brave lot, risking potential during tense protests, even ones in sub-zero temperatures like the one at Queen’s Park on the Sunday before Brigadier’s death.
When police horses are out "on duty", they wear a breastplate bearing the Toronto police crest. In other words, they are on duty serving the citizens of Toronto, just as their officer riders do.
Brigadier was one of 28 horses and 40 officers that make up Toronto’s mounted unit. When the unit was founded in 1886, its job was to control speeding horses and patrol outlying areas.
Once included among the mounted officers is the now retired Constable Jim Bradford, Canada Free Press cartoonist, who once told CFP that the horses in the mounted unit could be easily distinguished from each other by their various personality and character traits. This, of course endeared them to as many adults as children.
Nicknamed the "Gentle Giant", Brigadier conducted his job with proud class, had a horse’s sense of humour and was always willing to please.
Brigadier’s remains were being sent to the University of Guelph for further investigation and to be cremated. His ashes will be returned to Toronto for a memorial service.
"I think the entire city of Toronto will be touched by the loss of this animal," said police Chief Bill Blair, who attended the scene of the accident.
"It was hard to tell (Bradfield) his horse had to be put down," Constable Chris Heard told the Toronto Star. "The horse saved his life and he knows that."
Not only humans were emotionally devastated by the loss of Brigadier. Three other horses–Blue Moon, Elvis and Viscount–were on duty with Brigadier at the time of the hit and run.
"I never heard such upset horses," said Constable Heard, who transported the horses back to the Horse Palace. "Blue Moon was kicking up a storm so much, I had to stop three times to calm him down."
Meanwhile, there’s an empty stall with the name Brigadier under a Toronto police crest down at the grief-stricken Horse Palace.
But the sound of brave Brigadier’s hooves clip clopping along Toronto pavement lives on forever.
Editor's Desk
Death of police horse, Brigadier breaks hearts
By Judi McLeod
Monday, February 27, 2006
Brigadier, an 8-year-old prize-winning Belgian cross with the Toronto mounted police unit, was more legend than horse. Anyone who ever saw the noble creature moving along Toronto streets with his officer rider was an instant fan.
Brigadier was struck down in what police say was a deliberate hit and run on Friday, Feb. 24, 2006.
Constable Kevin Bradfield was injured along with his horse. Bradfield, who joined the mounted unit only last May, was thrown onto the open road and suffered broken ribs and neck and leg injuries.
The accident scene was charged with heartbreak of an unforgettable kind. The emergency task force unit had to be called in to shoot the horse as it lay helplessly on the road, suffering excruciating pain with two broken legs. In this real-life story with an unhappy ending, it was a tableau with some officers blinded by tears.
They knew that even in the execution of his last duty--being out on the road as part of a new policing effort to control drugs and gun crime--Brigadier, by taking most of the impact of the hit and run driver, saved the life of his rider.
These horses and their police officer riders are a brave lot, risking potential during tense protests, even ones in sub-zero temperatures like the one at Queen’s Park on the Sunday before Brigadier’s death.
When police horses are out "on duty", they wear a breastplate bearing the Toronto police crest. In other words, they are on duty serving the citizens of Toronto, just as their officer riders do.
Brigadier was one of 28 horses and 40 officers that make up Toronto’s mounted unit. When the unit was founded in 1886, its job was to control speeding horses and patrol outlying areas.
Once included among the mounted officers is the now retired Constable Jim Bradford, Canada Free Press cartoonist, who once told CFP that the horses in the mounted unit could be easily distinguished from each other by their various personality and character traits. This, of course endeared them to as many adults as children.
Nicknamed the "Gentle Giant", Brigadier conducted his job with proud class, had a horse’s sense of humour and was always willing to please.
Brigadier’s remains were being sent to the University of Guelph for further investigation and to be cremated. His ashes will be returned to Toronto for a memorial service.
"I think the entire city of Toronto will be touched by the loss of this animal," said police Chief Bill Blair, who attended the scene of the accident.
"It was hard to tell (Bradfield) his horse had to be put down," Constable Chris Heard told the Toronto Star. "The horse saved his life and he knows that."
Not only humans were emotionally devastated by the loss of Brigadier. Three other horses–Blue Moon, Elvis and Viscount–were on duty with Brigadier at the time of the hit and run.
"I never heard such upset horses," said Constable Heard, who transported the horses back to the Horse Palace. "Blue Moon was kicking up a storm so much, I had to stop three times to calm him down."
Meanwhile, there’s an empty stall with the name Brigadier under a Toronto police crest down at the grief-stricken Horse Palace.
But the sound of brave Brigadier’s hooves clip clopping along Toronto pavement lives on forever.