Heartbreaking moment officer says final goodbye to his partner caught on camera (PHOTO)

'It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of Charlotte ... who died in the line of duty this morning in a motor vehicle accident.'

Following an accident between a Houston Police Officer and a truck, HPD's Mounted Patrol horse was fatally wounded.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Officer D. Herrijon was riding Charlotte, a six-year-old mounted patrol horse, when she was startled by a truck. Her fear led her to be struck by a cement truck, which fatally wounded her and bucked officer Herrijon.

As Charlotte lay injured and dying on the sidewalk, officer Herrijon was caught on camera holding her face and offering comfort. A vet was called to the scene and it was ascertained that Charlotte's back legs had been injured beyond repair.

HPD spokeswoman Jodi Silva said Charlotte was euthanized at the scene.

Later that day, the HPD posted a message to its Facebook page saying, "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of Charlotte, an HPD Mounted Patrol horse, who died in the line of duty this morning in a motor vehicle accident. She thrived in HPD Mounted Patrol's barefoot and natural horsemanship programs.

"She passed her evaluation period with flying colors and was working the streets of Downtown Houston within a short time of being started under saddle."

Officer Herrejon suffered minor injuries but was taken to the hospital as a precaution. He is reported to be recovering.

Though the incident is still under investigation, the HPD believes the truck driver is not at fault.

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