Say what you will about the San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow, one thing’s for sure: He has a serious soft spot for horses and dogs.
His office announced the death of “a cherished horse” on its Mounted Patrol Unit. The horse, named Patrick, died Saturday at age 21.
Patrick — referring to the horse, not the sheriff — was known on the patrol unit for “his steady temperament, reliability and strength,” the office wrote on social media. And that’s not all.
“He proudly represented our office at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C., where his calm presence and professionalism reflected the very best of our organization,” the agency added.
Last January, the office marked the passing of Hondo, an American quarter horse known as a favorite of Withrow’s for parades and ceremonies. He too was hailed for his “presence and calm demeanor,” a special quality for an equine that had to mingle with people and crowds.
And just last month, Withrow and bevy other officials turned out to dedicate a dog park in Tracy to Duke, a beloved member of the sheriff’s K-9 unit. Duke was fatally injured when he was stabbed by a barricaded burglary suspect that deputies were attempting to take into custody in 2023.