The New Castle County Division of Police sadly announces the passing of Spartan, one of our Mounted Unit horses.

Spartan, a Clydesdale, was born in January 2008 in Listowel, Ontario, Canada, and joined the New Castle County Police Mounted Unit in 2015. Throughout his career, Spartan proudly served alongside several Mounted Unit officers and quickly became a familiar and beloved presence throughout New Castle County.

In 2017, Spartan and his partner, M/Cpl. Richard Shugart, competed in the North American Police Equestrian Council training and competition held at the Devon Horse Show Complex. The pair proudly earned first place in the uniform competition, reflecting the hard work, training, and trust they shared.

For more than a decade, Spartan served our community, taking part in countless parades, community events, and special details. He stood out wherever he went, but his gentle personality and the way he connected with people made him so special.

Earlier this week, a lump was discovered on Spartan, and he was taken to a veterinarian for evaluation. Testing confirmed that he was suffering from an untreatable form of cancer. To prevent further suffering, a difficult decision was made to let Spartan go peacefully. He passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the age of 18, surrounded by staff from Carousel Park and officers from the Mounted Unit who had the privilege of working with him over the past decade.

Spartan served our community with honor, and his legacy will live on through the countless memories he helped create and all who had the privilege of knowing him.