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Zimmerman, Minn. (AP)

Mpls police horse retired after 14 years on job

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A trusted police horse named Whisper is being retired due to an injury.

Whisper has been a police horse in Minneapolis for 14 years.

The thoroughbred raced at Canterbury Downs until age 4, then was donated to the Minneapolis Park Police. Whisper worked for the park and city police departments until 2005, then he went to the University of Minnesota Police Department.

Some officers spent thousands of hours with Whisper. Because of his experience, Whisper was often called upon to lead other horses, and he worked special events such as the Republican National Convention.

In November 2008, Whisper fractured his front right elbow. It was surgically repaired, but this May it was determined Whisper could not return to duty.

Whisper has been adopted by a Zimmerman family, and a retirement ceremony will be held Wednesday at the family's farm.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)