March 6, 2008

WILMINGTON, Del. – Tears and memories were shared by mourners last Thursday at a service honoring Delaware’s late service heroes.

The two police mounted horses and four retired K-9 dogs were apart of the New Castle County Police Department.

Col. Rick Gregory, county police superintendent, said the animals were more than just law enforcement tools. “They were loved by members of the officers’ families.”

The service was held at Carousel Park, where the police mounts are stabled, and featured a ceremony with bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

Tribute was paid to retired police K-9s Britta, Astor, Cinta and Brian, as well as police mounts Walton and Wellington, a 25-year old retiree.

While some of the service animals have been deceased for nearly a year, the department’s most recent loss came from police mount Walton, who died three weeks ago.

He succumbed to complications from surgery, devastating his partner Officer Andy Guyton, and the volunteers at Carousel Park who cared for him.

“Up until the day he got sick, he was patrolling,” Guyton said. “He did protect the citizens of New Castle County and he brought joy to the kids in rough neighborhoods.”

Guyton was partnered with Walton for the last seven years and watched the once scrawny Clydesdale grow into the new nicknames other horse officers dubbed him, such as “Thunder” and “The Rock.”

A trio of mounted horses and six K-9s with their handlers stood by at attention as each of the widowed officers shared memories of their service animals.

“These police service dogs are not just invaluable police tools, they are partners,” said Senior Cpl. Charles Sayers with tears in his eyes about the loss of his K-9 partner, Brian, who died last year.

Of some of the other late service heroes: Senior Cpl. Anthony Scelsi said K-9 Britta had to be euthanized for health reasons in August; Cpl. Terry O’Connor’s canine partner, Cinta, had a stroke in December.

The police mount helped represent the First State at the 2005 presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C.

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Special contribution to this report was made by Terri Sanginiti, The News Journal.