SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After nearly nine years of police service, Big Ben is being put out to pasture.
The horse, which has served with the Scottsdale Police Department since Sept. 23, 2011, was formally retired Friday, according to the department’s Facebook page.
The horse was originally donated to the department. After nine months of training it was assigned to patrol the Old Town Scottsdale Entertainment District, KNXV reported.
Big Ben has worked at the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open, Super Bowl XLIX, Arizona Diamondbacks baseball games and Fiesta Bowl block parties, according to the Facebook post. He also worked holiday events and memorial services in the area.
The horse was a favorite of Scottsdale officers because of his reliability, according to KNXV.
Big Ben will be reunited with his original donors for his retirement, police said.
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