By Alma Fausto
The Orange County Register
SANTA ANA, Calif. — Zeus, one of the Santa Ana Police Department’s horses, died Wednesday during training in Norco. He was a 21-year-old American quarter horse.
Zeus was attending training with the Orange County Regional Mounted Unit. Police said his cause of death was not yet known.
Described as one of its most experienced horses, Zeus joined the Santa Ana Police Department in 2007 and served with Sgt. Kanan Blake.
The horses are often seen at events with crowds. He was a fixture at schools and other community functions.
Santa Ana Police had nine horses. The horses are owned by the officers who ride them.
"(Zeus and Blake) were often seen patrolling the downtown streets and parks, as well as demonstrations, festivals, concerts and crime-suppression details across the city and county,” Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
Trainers noticed something was wrong with Zeus during training and tried to save him. It is the first horse in the department to die, he said.
“They’re also officers, and a valuable asset,” Bertagna said. “It’s quite a loss.”
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©2017 The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.)