Pittsburgh Police and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Mounted Patrol are mourning the loss of the department’s horse, Spirit.
The department posted to social media that Spirit died following an inoperable bone fracture.
“Spirit was our gentle giant,” said Officer Jamie Bush, who coordinates the Mounted Unit.
“He was always calm, always patient, just good at his job all around.
“We’re heartbroken, but we know his life was full of as much joy as he brought to our friends and neighbors.”
Spirit was 14 years old.
He joined the department in 2017 as the second horse in the department’s then-newly relaunched Mounted Unit.
The 1,500-pound horse was donated by former Pittsburgh Steeler Stephon Tuitt.
The social media post described Spirit as “a people person horse” from the day he arrived on the job.
Spirit enjoyed school visits, parades, and events, and worked to build relationships between police and the communities they serve.
The Mounted Unit also posted to Facebook, saying it was an “incredibly difficult decision to lay Spirit to rest.”
“Spirit was a kind, gentle soul who was truly built to be a police horse,” the post said.
“Spirit served the City of Pittsburgh with honor, courage, and a heart as steady as they come. He passed surrounded by his fellow officers and those who loved him most.”