Every Coral Gables Police Officer deserves rest and relaxation in their retirement. That includes the department’s four-legged officers. And not only the K-9 units! Specifically, we’re talking about Rockaway, the only horse that has served in the Gables’ mounted patrol unit since it was reinstituted almost seven years ago after four decades of the city not having such a unit.
The former thoroughbred who once raced at Calder and Gulfstream Park has had a long and varied career—from the track to the streets of Coral Gables. Since joining the department’s mounted unit in 2019, Rockaway’s main role has been community engagement. Residents and visitors may have seen him throughout downtown or in residential areas, where he was a calming presence, a photo opportunity, and an ambassador for the department.
Though his demeanor was gentle, Rockaway was also trained to assist in law enforcement duties, prepared to respond to more serious situations when needed. But now, after years of loyal service—and a recent spinal surgery—it’s time for Rockaway to hang up his saddle for good.
Coral Gables Police Officer Ashley Sheran adopted Rockaway in 2015 and soon after approached Police Chief Ed Hudak about reinstituting a mounted patrol unit. The chief agreed, and Rockaway has been patrolling the city ever since. But after many years of horse racing and then pounding the pavement in the city, always with a rider on his back, Rockaway began to wear down.
“Police horses get a lot of wear and tear on their bodies, and Rockaway came off the track where he was probably worked significantly prior to joining the department,” said Jennifer Arcuri, president of 10-42 Police Horse Retirement Home in Trenton, Fla., where Rockaway will be living out the rest of his days.
Arcuri, a former sergeant in the Pembroke Pines Department, recently opened her ranch precisely to care for retiring police and military horses. Rockaway will be among the first two equine residents at the facility, alongside a fellow retiree from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
“They are going to be living their best retired life, including a lot of doing what horses are programmed to do, pasture and graze in the sun, mosey around property,” Arcuri said.
As for the Gables mounted patrol unit, two horses are currently on a trial period. “It does take a specific personality in horse and additional training, to condition them to being around children, navigating some of the terrain, and going on police calls,” she said
As Rockaway heads off to greener pastures -literally -he leaves behind hoofprints on the streets of Coral Gables and in the hearts of the many people who met him. His new life will be filled with sunshine, open fields, gentle care, and the freedom to roam.
Rockaway and Officer Sheran at their last official event, a police memorial service earlier this month.
After years of service, Rockaway has earned the right to be, as the police code says: 10-42—Out of service, at home.
For more information on the 10-42 Police Horse Retirement Home, including to donate to the ranch and Rockaway’s future, click here.
Author: Coral Gables Gazette News Staff
Originally established in 1996 and relaunched as a digital publication in February 2025, the Coral Gables Gazette is an independent local news organization dedicated to factual, objective and accountable community journalism. Our newsroom reports on the people, policies, institutions and events shaping Coral Gables, Florida, providing residents with timely, informative coverage of the issues affecting their community. Our reporting includes City Hall, local government, municipal elections, public spending, real estate development, business, education, arts and culture, and neighborhood affairs throughout the City Beautiful. We follow City Commission decisions, examine public records and report on the businesses, organizations and individuals contributing to Coral Gables. We believe informed residents are essential to a healthy, engaged community. Stories published under the Coral Gables Gazette News Staff byline are prepared or compiled by the publication's editorial team. We strive for accuracy, fairness, transparency and clear distinctions between news reporting, opinion and advertising. Readers are encouraged to submit news tips, corrections, editorial inquiries and story suggestions through our Contact page and learn more about our standards through our Editorial Policy.
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