Morgans have been doing color guard duty for fallen officers all over Washington State for the past five years in addition
to parade duty. Pictured is Okan Beaubridge (Equinox Beaubrook X Madrona Bridget) on the left. Beau is a 14-year-old
gelding, ridden by Trooper Don Curtis of the Washington State Patrol and owned by Don and Mary Curtis of Oroville, Wash.
Don and Mary own Okan Morgans; they are breeders of fine quality Lippitt Morgans.
Sergeant Mike Saunders, right, is riding Okan King Friday (Meredith Bilirubin X Good News Priscilla) is a 6-year-old
gelding owned by Mike and Jill Saunders of Omak, Wash. Saunders is also with the Washington State patrol. Trooper
Curtis and Sargent Saunders do their color guard duty with two other troopers as needed around the state.
There was also a riderless horse present for the day with Officer Amy Ross of the Spokane Police Department with her
Thoroughbred/Oldenburg cross.
The color guard duty was held in a memorial service for a Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Deputy who died in the line
of duty. Deputy Michael Estes originally from Hermiston, Ore., grew up in the Spokane, Wash. area and was a 1982 graduate
of Valley Christian High School in Spokane Valley. Estes served in the U.S. Army for 12-years and spent two-years as
a Correctional Officer at the Washington State Penitentiary. He joined the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Office in 2005.
At the time of his death, Estes was also a member of the Oregon National Guard.
Deputy Estes died February 14, 2007 from injuries suffered in a traffic collision on Feb. 6, 2007. The collision
occurred while he was responding to a 911 call in the town of Burbank, Wash.
Friends and family as well as around 400 officers were present from county, state and federal law enforcement agencies
and fire departments all over the Pacific Northwest and Eastern Canada to pay tribute to a courageous fallen officer.
