'Gentle Soul Of The Barn,' Beloved Long Island Police Horse, 'Charlie,' Mourned

MINEOLA, NY — The Nassau County Police Department was is in mourning this weekend after one of its most beloved members, a gentle police horse named Charlie that visited thousands of school children over the years.

Police Mounted Unit "Charlie," who was named after another beloved member,Officer Charlie Cole, who fell to a 9-11-related cancer, was humanely euthanized after a cancer diagnosis on Saturday, officials said Sunday.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Commissioner of Police Patrick Ryder said it was with "deep sorrow" that they were making the announcement that"Charlie" passed away.

The horse "suddenly fell ill and was immediately brought to the veterinarian for evaluation," their statement read.

The statement goes on to say that the quarter horse, who joined Nassau in 2016, was "diagnosed with a tumor in his intestines and was euthanized to limit his suffering."

"Charlie," a quarter horse of 19 years, was trained as a police horse and had "a great temperament and demeanor" that helped train the last 10 Nassau officers who transferred into the mounted unit.

"Charlie exhibited great bravery over his years of service during presidential visits, hundreds of other large details and served his community proudly," the statement read. "Charlie was also known as the gentle soul of the barn. When the mounted unit was called upon to visit the thousands of school children over the years, it was Charlie who answered the call because of his gentle disposition and versatility."

His name holds "great significance as he represented a true Nassau County hero," the statement read.

Cole, a Wantagh resident who was raised in Medford and graduated Patchogue-Medford High School, died in August 2011 after "making the ultimate sacrifice," the statement read.

"Please keep Charlie and the members of the Nassau County Police Mounted Unit in your thoughts and prayers," Blakeman and Ryder concluded.