Police horse named in honor of Forrest Gump laid to rest in Savannah
A lone black saddle sat on a stand over a Savannah Police logoed blanket and adorned with a badge. Just a few yards away, grave markers honored Mercury, Jupiter, Apache Sunset, K-9 Bruno, and soon, retired Savannah Police horse Sgt. Forrest.
According to Star Cpl. Anne Sosbe, “he was not one of the largest horses we had, but he made up for it in personality.”
On Saturday, current and former members of the Savannah Police Mounted Patrol gathered with police officials and horse lovers to celebrate the life of Sgt. Forrest. Forrest joined the Savannah Police Mounted Patrol unit in the summer of 2007. “When he got off the trailer his name was Gomer but, none of the officers wanted to ride a Gomer” said Sosbe.
So, after an incident while on patrol in Forsyth Park where Gomer showed his special attitude and running ability, he was renamed Forrest in honor of Forrest Gump.
Forrest spent more than a decade patrolling Savannah’s neighborhoods and working numerous parades and events. Current and former officers recounted stories from Forrest’s exploits such as the time he decided to take a break and sit down with his officer still in the saddle late one night during St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
Forrest led a colorful life right up to the end. After two separate cancer diagnosis and treatments Sgt. Forrest retired from SPD and became a therapeutic riding horse with Peggi Noon at Pegasus Riding Academy. Last year, Forrest added to his lore by pulling the wedding carriage for Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck.
Now, Forrest has returned home to the mounted patrol facility, to his final resting place near his “b.f.f.” Bubba. Cpl. Michael Carr, who rode Sgt. Forrest during his time with mounted patrol, said “he was a great horse…I judge every other horse based on Forrest. That was my first and only horse, and I loved him to death.”
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: ‘I loved him to death’: Savannah Police celebrates the life of famous horse, Sgt. Forrest
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