Detective John Reilly and Trooper

The horseman’s name is Detective John Reilly and for the past decade he and Trooper have had the rare distinction of being the New York Police Department’s only mounted team dedicated to patrolling Central Park.  But their days of patrolling the urban range are ending.

Detective Reilly is retiring this week — and not by choice. On Thursday, he turns 63, the department’s mandatory retirement age.

Trooper, his horse, at age 15, is also being put out to pasture, having logged 10 years on patrol, the typical limit for a city police horse.

Corey Kilgannon.  NYT. 

Life is pretty much a crock

when you've been around the block

and the boss says 'adios' --

you're 63; don't be morose.

A man and horse in Central Park;

a job, of course, but what a lark!

Happy in his work, no doubt.

And no existential drought.

Competent and satisfied;

such a worker, with real pride,

makes the world a better place --

justifies the human race.

Fare thee well, Detective John;

we'll miss you out on the Great Lawn.

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