09/23/2026
Lancaster County Mounted Unit Shines in Competition Among Top Agencies at Prestigious National Colloquium
The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office Mounted Response Unit (MRU) participated in the distinguished 41st Annual National Mounted Police Colloquium at the Kentucky Horse Park, joining 42 mounted units and 144 horses and riders from across the United States and Canada.
The week-long event included specialized training and clinics followed by a series of competitions, culminating in Friday night’s awards ceremony. The Lancaster County MRU riders who represented the agency in competition were:
• Becca Brown with “Bongo”
• Dominique Morrison with “Stickers”
• Laura Pettler with “Kismet”
• Amee Warren with “Wolf”
Additionally, Alexis Pettler staffed the unit’s informational booth and provided essential ground support for the team’s riders.
The Colloquium attracts many long-established mounted units with decades of history and deep institutional roots. As a unit still under two years old, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office MRU was honored to participate among such experienced and accomplished agencies. This opportunity allowed the team to demonstrate its commitment to Lancaster County, its citizens, public safety, and the mission of search and rescue.
Though small, the MRU continues to prove itself as an exceptional and determined unit. Riders competed in English Equitation, Western Equitation, Equestrian Drill Team Performance, and both individual and team Equestrian Obstacle Courses—bringing home a total of six show ribbons and earning a National Championship Title Buckle in Western Equitation.
"Every member of our Mounted Response Unit demonstrates exceptional dedication, professionalism, and commitment. That spirit shone through at this year’s National Mounted Police Colloquium. Competing among some of the most established mounted agencies in North America, our team proved that determination and teamwork can stand proudly beside decades of tradition. I am incredibly proud of our riders, our support staff, and our horses for representing Lancaster County with such integrity, pride, and skill. This unit is something to be extremely proud of, and these achievements reflect our unwavering mission to serve our community with excellence.” - Karla Knight Deese, Lancaster County Coroner
