A St. Paul police horse that patrolled for 12 years, interacting with the community, is now the one in need of the public’s help.

Jett recently became sick and has been receiving ongoing veterinary care.

Jen Mink was partnered with Jett when she was a St. Paul police officer, and she’s owned and cared for him since he retired from the department in 2018.

Mink said she never wanted to ask for money for Jett, but she would have second-guessed herself if the horse could have been saved with the veterinary care and medication that a GoFundMe (gofund.me/86743db16) is helping to support.

“Jett is a special horse,” she wrote on the fundraising page. “… He patrolled the streets and protected his rider and the community every day. He played a vital role in countless city festivals, community events & celebrations, along with the more challenging work at the RNC (Republican National Convention), TC Marathon, Grandma’s Marathon, Red Bull Crashed Ice, and many other stressful situations.”

Mink added that people who’d normally avoid the police “would curiously approach us, asking us questions, including wanting to pet Jett. Jett visited many schools & classes, helping to teach kids how to handle an emergency & how police help their community.”

‘Not his time’

During a cleaning of Jett’s stall last weekend, evidence was found of mineral deposits in his feces. Mink learned mineral masses may have formed in the horse’s intestines, which could result in impaction colic and be fatal.

Veterinarians have been out to examine Jett several times and give him medication.

It’s not clear exactly why he’s sick. “It’s a trial and error guessing game because he can’t tell us what’s going on,” which is frustrating, Mink said.

Jett, an appendix quarter horse, has been battling a fever and has been eating and drinking minimally.

He is estimated to be in his late 20s, which is old for a horse, though they can live longer lives with good vet care and quality food, Mink said.

“It’s not his time,” Mink added. “As old as Jett is, he runs in the pasture with his friends like he’s 10 years old. He still has a ton of spirit. He has a ton of life in him.”

Mink was paired with Jett for the last four years or so of his career before he retired. She was given the option to adopt him and said “yes” because he has a skin condition and she wanted to give him the extra care required.

That condition hasn’t affected his overall health and this is the first time he’s “ever given me a scare,” Mink said.

Mink started the GoFundMe at the beginning of the week and it had raised about $2,800 as of Friday morning.

“I am so grateful and appreciative for the prayers,” Mink said.

4 retired St. Paul police horses stabled together

Officer Eric Stevens, front right, riding Moose, is joined by other officers near Lake Phalen on April 20, 2018. Moose was regularly partnered with Officer Jen Mink, and she now cares for him along with Jett. (S. M. Chavey / Pioneer Press)

After Jett’s retirement, Mink continued on as a mounted patrol officer and was next partnered with Moose.

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When the department’s mounted unit was disbanded in 2019, the family that donated Moose — who are parents of a St. Paul officer — were given the option to take him back. They told Mink, “We think he’s a great fit with you,” so she also adopted Moose.

Mink’s two horses are stabled with two other retired St. Paul police horses, Javier and Chase, in Scandia. Those two horses are owned by former mounted patrol officer Chris Hoyt.

Mink, who left policing in 2021, now teaches basic horsemanship skills to children through adults with the retired police horses.

“All four of these guys still have energy, still full of personality and spirit,” she said. “Using them to teach other people about horses is super rewarding.”

Mink is part of the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association honor guard, and Jett and Moose have continued to be present with her for line-of-duty death funerals.

“Even though they’re not on the streets anymore, they’re still a part of that law enforcement family,” Mink said.