A four-year-old purebred Clydesdale police horse has been named in honour of Sgt. Ryan Russell, who was tragically killed after he was struck by a stolen snow plow in the streets of Toronto in 2011.
Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders introduced the horse-in-training at a ceremony attended by Russell’s widow Christine and son Nolan on Tuesday.
“It’s very special. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost five years and he’s still being remembered and honoured by the Toronto police,” said Christine.
“It’s such an incredible honour for my family to see such as beautiful and remarkable animal be put into service, that’s going to work the streets just as my husband did.”
The horse, which has been named Russell, was purchased from Carson Farms and is scheduled for active duty in October.
Richard Kachkar was found not criminally responsible in the death of Sgt. Russell, 35, who was killed when he was hit by a stolen snowplow.
Kachkar is currently being detained at the Ontario Shores mental health hospital in Whitby, Ont. where he was recently moved into a low-security unit last year.