Going to greener pasturesDoc's Valentine to retire to quiet life on Ravenel farm after 14 years patrolling city By David Slade (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, July 25, 2008
Wade Spees Charleston City Police officer Susan Strobel visits Doc's Valentine, the horse she was assigned to as part of the department's mounted patrol, at the stable Wednesday. Doc, as the horse is known in the department, will soon be retired from the police force. Doc's Valentine has patrolled the streets of Charleston for nearly 14 years, working some of the toughest neighborhoods in the city. Now, he's getting ready to retire to a quiet life on a farm in Ravenel, where Officer Susan Strobel hopes to visit him. Doc, as he's known in the Charleston Police Department stables, is the latest horse to be retired from the city's mounted patrol. When police horses end their working lives, they can't just go home with their officer partners, the way police dogs often do, so the department looks for suitable people with the land and the financial resources to care for the animals. Official department policy, which is in the process of being changed, says that police animals should be sold to the highest bidder, like used police cars and office equipment. In practice, the dogs and horses have always been adopted out when they are too old to work, police officials said. "The horses are like the officers' partners," said Master Patrol Officer Ed Davis, supervisor of the horse patrol. "It's not like a car." Doc was born on Valentine's Day in 1985, sired by a horse named Doc, which is how he got the name Doc's Valentine. At 23, he's an elder in the police stables, on the high side of retirement age, and he just had abdominal surgery. Strobel patrolled atop Doc for the past six years and visited him several times a week when he was recovering from his surgery. "Horses are really creatures of habit," she said. "It was good for him to see a familiar face." They used to patrol the East Side together. Once, they were sent out of state to help another city keep order at a Mardi Gras celebration. Now, Doc will be put out to pasture, like other police horses before him. "He's done his time," Strobel said. "I'm excited for him." Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 8 comment(s)
Posted by jeff61 on July 25, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Man,, is this the best the city of Charleston can do? Send thier retired officers to a horse fram???
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on July 25, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Officer Strobel, I'm sure Doc did everything you asked of him for many years. He seems to be about 16 hands (?) and obviously is very fond of you! Here's wishing him a peaceful retirement...
Posted by jeff61 on July 25, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh,, this is a horse that is retiring. Good luck horse.
Posted by withrockb on July 25, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Doc,
I miss ya buddy. Many of nights were spent between JR, Strobel, and I patrolling the streets. You deserve your retirement.
Brad
Posted by withrockb on July 25, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jeff61,
I guess the ability to read and understand big words such as "horse", "mounted patrol", and "police stables" must play on your ID all day. Seriously though, did you even read the article?
Posted by jeff61 on July 25, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by withrockb on July 25, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just making a joke dude,, lighten up... I sure he is a fine horse and his retiremnt is well deserved. It is nice to see he is going to a horse farm and not being sold off...
Posted by jeff61 on July 25, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
and by the way... MY KID CAN READ
Posted by Tulane75 on July 26, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am in my 50's and still get excited when I see the police horses. Recently, on King Street, I asked two officers if they would stop so that I could pet the horses. They were happy to oblige and I can't tell you what medicine it was for me. In years past, when I knew more of the mounted patrol officers, I would stop by the barn. I have never ridden horses and I am not sure when this fascination started, but they are all such magical creatures!
Brad, Thanks for commenting on DV's service as a team member and DV, the best to you as well for a well earned retirement. Thanks for serving.