Goodbye, Brigadier: About 1,400 attend service for fallen equine officer in Toronto
Siri Agrell, CanWest News Service
Published: Tuesday, March 07, 2006

TORONTO -- Tears streamed down the faces of men and women gathered at a stadium Monday to pay tribute to a fallen member of the Toronto police force.

A small child lay a bouquet below his portrait and his partner broke down while reading a eulogy. Ontario's Lt.-Gov. James Bartleman attended, as did Toronto Mayor David Miller.

There were prayers, countless names scribbled in a book of condolence and a passionate tribute that told the lost soul "the ages echo with your footfalls."

And with that, a horse named Brigadier was laid to rest.

"Today I'm grateful to be able to say goodbye to my partner," said Const. Kevin Bradfield, the officer who was riding Brigadier on Feb. 24 when he was struck by a car.

Approximately 1,200 mourners and 200 members of the Toronto police force attended the service.

The horse was killed and Bradfield injured when a man turned his car and slammed into them after an incident at a drive-through bank machine in Scarborough, Ont.

Brigadier took the brunt of the impact and was so badly hurt that he was put down at the scene of the collision.

Staff Supt. Gary Grant described Brigadier, an eight-year-old Belgian cross, as a "valued member of Toronto Police Service mounted unit" who died while "trying to make our community a safer place."

The service had all the ceremony of a police funeral, with members of the K9 unit lined up along a red carpet and eight mounted police on parade.

"I know I didn't bring enough Kleenex for this," said one woman who writes for a Canadian equestrian magazine.

Before and after the service, people posed next to various portraits of Brigadier, one of him in three-quarter profile, another of him being ridden through shallow water.

They made donations to the Brigadier Memorial Fund, set up to support the large animal clinic at the University of Guelph.

They collected playing cards with Brigadier's face on the front, the words "Rest in Peace, Brig" printed on the back.

Police chaplain Walter Kelly paid tribute to Brigadier and his role "in the fight against criminals" and described a picture of the horse at the drive-through window of a Tim Hortons. "I never did find out, was Brigadier a regular or did he like double-double?" he joked.

Kelly also expressed relief that Bradfield had avoided serious injury.

"We are so glad that Brigadier's last rider, Kevin Bradfield, is alive and well enough to attend this service today," he said to strong applause.

Staff Insp. Bill Wardle remembered his first assigned horse, Susan, and addressed those who may not understand why such a service would be held for an animal.

"For those of us who do understand, it makes us realize how lucky we are to experience the special bond with horses," he said.

Animal lover Shirley Eikhard drove to the service from her home in Mono Mills, Ont., near Caledon.

"I just wanted to show my support for the police," she said. "These animals put themselves in the line of fire all the time."

Pat Mazurick brought with her a large stuffed horse decorated with a bow to place outside Brigadier's stall. A note attached to its neck read: "You are now grazing in greener pastures."

Dirk Sankeringh, 42, is charged with dangerously operating a vehicle causing bodily harm and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.