Two youngsters from St. Roch’s School in St. Louis’ Seventh Police District have won the District’s “Name the Horse” contest. Paul Pini, 13, and Danny McGuire, 7, both submitted the winning entry, “Justice” for the horse, which was donated to the District’s Mounted Police by Pantheon Corporation.
Colonel Suzanne Hart of the St. Louis Police Board and the Team Policing Task force, who arranged the donation, and Leon Strauss, President of Pantheon Corporation, will present a $25 Savings Bond to each of the winners on Thursday, October 20, at 2 p.m. at Seventh District Headquarters, 5240 Enright Avenue. Also present will be Captain Gay Carraway, Commander of the District, Lt. James Shea, Team One leader, and Ptn. Thomas DuBois. the mounted doliceman, and the newly-named “Justice”.
The winning name was selected from over 1,000 entries submitted to the Team One Police during the six-week contest. Pantheon Corporation donated the horse to the Seventh District to provide more personal, as well as highly visible police protection for the present and future residents in its 100-acre redevelopment area which lies wholly within the Seventh District. In addition to the initial purchase price of the horse, its equipment, and the special mounted police uniform, Pantheon’s gift to the Police Department includes the horse’s daily boarding costs at the Mounted Police Stables in Forest Park.
Ptn. DuBois of Team One, who volunteered for mounted duty, said that there were benefits to patrolling on horseback, especially in that the horse can get between buildings and into areas a patrol car cannot. The horse also attracts residents, who the officer then gets to meet and know personally.
“Justice”, used to green pastures and soft ground, had some trouble adjusting to walking on urban pavement everyday, and in the early stages of his training, used to avoid the painted lines in the Police parking lot by stepping over them.
Liniment, loving care, and now a name, have accustomed “Justice” to life in the City.
Originally published in The Paper, November 1977.
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Original source: SD_Times1977_11.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
