Beloved police horse and ‘local celebrity’ dies after years in Georgia tourist spot
A beloved police horse died after almost two decades on the job in a popular Georgia tourist spot.
The Savannah Police Department is mourning the loss of Sgt. Bobby, who at age 22 was the longest-serving horse on its force.
“He was a local celebrity in the Savannah area and was the backbone of the unit,” Star Cpl. Ann Sosbe of the mounted patrol division said in a Jan. 28 news release. “In the more than 19 years that he served the Savannah Police Department, he met thousands of Savannah residents and tourists.”
Officers said Sgt. Bobby was in the department’s stables when he died suddenly over the weekend. He had been in a “semi-retired” status as he grew older.
“Whether he had four legs or two, he was very much a member of this department and deservingly earned the honorary title of sergeant,” Chief Lenny Gunther said in a news release. “We mourn his loss and remember him with honor and respect.”
Officers said Sgt. Bobby had been with the department since 2004 and became a “standout” horse. Over the years, he “played the part of the riderless horse at funerals and the annual Police Memorial Service.”
Sgt. Bobby also made a mark on the community. After his death, people flocked to Facebook to express their condolences and remember his sweet demeanor.
“I met him at Forsyth Park some years back when I stopped at the Farmer’s Market,” one person commented on Facebook. “I was smitten for life!
Another person wrote: “Sorry to hear this. Loved seeing him when I was in Savannah.”
Horses typically live 25 to 30 years, and age was believed to have played a role in Sgt. Bobby’s death.
“We cannot even begin to describe what a truly great horse he was and how much he will be missed,” Sosbe wrote.
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