NATIONAL MOUNTED LAW ENFORCEMENT FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Deputy Catarino Gonzales has proudly served Los Angeles County Sheriff since 1991 and has been keeping the law off the back of a horse since 2014.
With over 45 years riding experience including competing in Mexican and American rodeos, Deputy Gonzales' experience is an asset to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Mounted Enforcement Detail. His overall experience is utilized to serve as the Sheriff's Department Mounted Instructor and Western States Mounted Officer's Association Certified Mounted Instructor. Catarino assists in teaching over 300 students per year in mounted patrol and also conducts private lessons in horsemanship. Catarino has been a presenter at national law enforcement conventions including the North American Mounted Unit Commanders Association in 2018.
Cpl Sandra Chavez has proudly served Detroit PD since 1998 and been patrolling on horseback in the mounted unit since 2018. Her current equine partner is "Mirah" a Percheron Draft cross weighing 1800lbs and allows Cpl Chavez to walk the streets 10 feet off the ground.
With her learned horsemanship after transferring to the Detroit Mounted unit, she and her equine partner patrol the urban streets of Detroit deterring bad behavior, including political protests in 2020, excelling at community relations and utilizing her police tactics from the back of her horse to keep the Detroit streets safe. Off the streets, she and her partner were victorious in placing first at the North American Police Equestrian Council Training & Competition in Maryland and placing at the National Mounted Police Colloquium Training & Competition intricate obstacle course in Lexington Kentucky (stiff competition)
Her background in law enforcement includes Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF), Conspiracy One Task Force (COTF). Cpl Chavez is not just another pretty face, this officer led investigations in interstate narcotics trafficking, participated in undercover drug buys, worked undercover to target prostitution rings, participated in illegal weapons possession, armed robbery, homicide, violent assaults, gang activity, crimes involving racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations, developed and reported intelligence of gang activity based on social media investigations, located and apprehended violent fugitives, planned and conducted high-risk search warrant executions and facilitated gang intelligence sharing with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Cpl Sandra Chavez graduated with a Bachelors Degree from the University of Michigan with a Criminal Justice major a Psychology minor - perfect for her career choice.
Kathy Leigh Carter is the founder and president of the National Mounted Law Enforcement Foundation, a 501c3, approved April 1, 2018. Since 2014, she has traveled throughout the United States meeting officers, deputies and federal agents who patrol on horseback in over 150 units nationwide becoming a national expert and resource on this specialized unit.
She has traveled across the U.S. attending annual mounted conventions, visiting and riding with mounted and Border Patrol units. These men and women of mounted have graciously educated her about the importance of their unit's law enforcement tactics and training on horseback, techniques of maneuvering crowds, terrains they encounter on patrol, breeds of horse they utilize, riding disciplines and community relations with their equine partner in the areas they serve.
After Kathy Leigh's experiences learning how our law enforcement on horseback prevent and confront crime, save lives and protect our very freedoms with their equine partner, she felt compelled to create a national foundation that is able to directly support the work of our United States mounted units.
As a licensed attorney in Texas and California along with being an entertainment executive in Hollywood for over 25 years, Kathy brings her experience to the mounted law enforcement arena to elevate the brand to a national level through various platforms. Her vast appreciation for law enforcement and their equine partners drive her to raise awareness of this specialized unit and provide a national non profit for the public to support their local mounted units ensuring their donations will be utilized for the mounted unit they designate.