National Mounted Law enforcement Foundation
Board of directors
Kathy Leigh Carter, President:
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Kathy Leigh Carter is the founder and president of the National Mounted Law Enforcement Foundation, a 501c3, approved April 1st, 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.
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.
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.
Deputy Cartarino Gonzales, Secretary
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.
"I thought it was about time to have a national foundation supporting our American law enforcement men and women on horseback who confront and prevent crime, save lives and keep the peace from horseback. These law enforcement heroes are wrapped in the American flag." - Kathy Carter
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. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Mounted Enforcement Detail requires their deputies to provide their personal horse to assist with patrolling over 10,000 miles in Los Angeles County. Deputy Catarino owns and trains all his horses and regularly patrols with his roping horse “Chief”. Los Angeles County is very unique in that in one week you may be tasked to patrol the local mountains, desert, beaches or the very populated inner city. No matter the terrain, the citizens are always eager to ask questions regarding our equine partners.
With over 45 years riding experience including competing in Mexican and American rodeos, Deputy Catarino's 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. Deputy Catarino assists in teaching over 300 students per year in mounted patrol and also conducts private lessons in horsemanship.
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Deputy Catarino has been a presenter at national law enforcement conventions including the North American Mounted Unit Commanders Association.
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Fun Fact: Being retired for only a couple months, he and his partner “Chief” were hired back specifically for the Mounted Unit on a yearly basis for a 120 day contract.
Cpl sandra Chavez
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 weighing 1800 lbs 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 chosen for the Detroit PD billboard.
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.
Fun Fact: Cpl Chavez was nominated for Officer of the Year Women in Blue – https://nextdoor.com/agency-post/mi/detroit/detroit-police-department/congratulations-to-corporal-sandra-chavez-154926573/ and has received the 4th Quarter “Officer of the Quarter” Award twice for Detroit PD’s Metro Division.
Sgt silver Valencia, Treasurer
Sgt Silver Valencia has proudly served the Dallas Police department since 1997 and patrolling on horseback with the specialized Mounted unit since 2004.
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Throughout the years, Sgt Valencia and Nigel have safeguarded the citizens of Dallas through the 2011 Superbowl, the NRA convention, election and political protests, July 7 attack on officers, civil unrest riots of 2020, downtown Dallas streets and the arts district of Deep Ellum. They have participated in joint training clinics with joined mounted units from Dallas, Houston, Austin, Ft. Worth, McKinney and Oklahoma City. Sgt Valencia was selected to attend the world famous RCMP program for a two week long training with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police musical ride unit to share tactics and drills from horseback.
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After four years on the mounted unit patrolling the streets of Dallas on horseback, Silver was permanently partnered with Nigel, a Percheron/Thoroughbred draft cross weighing 1800 pounds.
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In 2022, Sgt. Valencia was a guest speaker at the National Mounted Law Enforcement Foundation annual convention giving live tactical demonstrations off horseback to over 150 mounted law enforcement. Later in the year, he promoted out of the mounted unit; however he continues to be involved in the Mounted Police community and is a guest equine trainer of Mounted International.
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In 2022, Sgt. Valencia was a guest speaker at the National Mounted Law Enforcement Foundation annual convention giving live tactical demonstrations off horseback to over 150 mounted law enforcement. Later in the year, he promoted out of the mounted unit; however he continues to be involved in the Mounted Police community and is a guest equine trainer of Mounted International. Later in the year, he promoted out of the mounted unit; however he continues to be involved in the Mounted Police community and is a guest equine trainer of Mounted International.
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