Chief Bill Blair, Mayor David Miller, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Monte Kwinter, Toronto Police Services Board chair Alok Mukherjee and vice-chair Pam McConnell were among the dignitaries in attendance for the hour-long ceremony at Ricoh Coliseum.

Police were forced to put down Brigadier after the driver of a vehicle struck the horse before fleeing the scene on Feb. 24.

Const. Kevin Bradfield, who suffered rib and neck injuries in the hit-and-run incident, recalled fondly "how he watched every move I made in the barn."

Brigadier paid "the ultimate sacrifice" and was a true hero," Bradfield said.

Chief Blair said the Mounted Unit horses are "magnificent animals" and they play a valuable role in helping to preserve the peace.

"The loss of one of these noble animals to the Service is significant but to the Mounted Unit it can be profound," the Chief said.

An honour guard of TPS Mounted Unit officers and four Police Dog Services officers and their dogs were part of the ceremony, as well as the Service’s pipe band and the Chief’s Ceremonial Unit.

Click here for the "Brigadier" poem by P.C. Michael Stavrakis #99666, MTD