Photo: Sol de Zuasnabar Brebbia / Moment / Getty Images
A horse named Sly, who was rescued from a frozen pond in February, is joining the Saratoga Springs Police Department's mounted unit today (June 27). Sly's owner, Ali Ernst, witnessed the incident when Sly fell through the ice while playing on her pond. Officers Kyle Clinton, Kris Camarro, and Dom Martuscello, along with employees from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, worked together to save the 1,300-pound horse. The dramatic rescue, captured on body camera footage, went viral.
Following his rescue, Sly was treated for hypothermia at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, where Ernst works as a technician. Since then, Sly has been in training with Ernst to prepare for his new role in public service. The Saratoga Springs Police Department (SSPD) announced that Sly will serve alongside the officers who saved him, enhancing community engagement and patrol coverage during the city's busy summer season.
According to WNYT, Sly will be introduced to the public at a press conference in High Rock Park. The department expressed gratitude for Ernst's dedication and community spirit, noting that Sly's addition comes at no cost to the department.