Murphy the Police Horse

Article by Tom Hallman Jr.

Officer Cassandra Wells says Murphy did a great job helping her make an arrest last week.

A horse that earned his way onto the Portland Police Bureau’s Mounted Patrol Unit last year after dropping 200 pounds and getting in shape was credited with making his first collar last week.

Murphy, carrying Officer Cassandra Wells, chased down a man suspected of breaking into a building in Old Town and kept him trapped next to a building until cops could slip cuffs on him.

“We were flagged down because someone was trying to break into a building,” Wells said. “He took off, and so did we.”

The suspect ran about six blocks — Murphy galloping after him — before the big horse cornered him.

“It was the first time Murphy has been involved in an arrest,” Wells said. “He did everything I needed…