The entire Board can be contacted at [email protected] or individually:

PRESIDENT

Kevin Brady, Retired – Sergeant Special Assignment          New York City Police Department                                              Mounted Unit Remount Commander                                          [email protected]

Retired Sergeant Brady was appointed to the NYPD in July of 1987, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in May of 1998, and promoted to the rank of Sergeant Special Assignment in 2014. He joined the NYPD Mounted Unit in 2004 and in 2011 he became the Units Remount Commander. As the Remount Commander, he supervised the purchase and training of all new Remounts, the Remount School of Horsemanship (a 12-week school training new Mounted Officers), five Remount Instructors, three Farriers, the Harness Shop, and Remount Special Projects (medical records, pharmaceuticals, deworming/vaccinations and horse retirement, lease, and purchase contracts). As the Remount Commander, he was responsible for the health and well-being of the entire herd and worked closely with the Department’s Veterinarian.                                                            Kevin also completely revised and rewrote the NYPD Mounted Unit’s operational manual, “A Guide to Urban Police Horsemanship”. He has attained two certifications for Technical Large Animal Rescue and had organized and set up an equine ambulance and large animal rescue equipment for his Unit. In 2019, after 32 years of service, Kevin retired from the NYPD.                                     Kevin has been serving on the NAMUCA board since 2019, first as the Region 1 Director, then as the Secretary, and now as the President.

SECRETARY

Chris Peña, Retired – Lieutenant                                    Anaheim Police Department, CA                                                  Mounted Enforcement Unit                                              [email protected]

Lieutenant Chris Peña is a 23-year veteran of the Anaheim (CA) Police Department’s Mounted Enforcement Unit. He graduated from Sacramento County Sheriff’s basic mounted school in 1996 and holds POST instructor certificates in Mounted Baton / Defensive Tactics, Mounted Patrol and Mobile Field Force/ Crowd Control. He is a founding member of the Orange County Regional Mounted Enforcement Unit as well as an instructor with the California Mounted Officers Association.                                                                                            In 1997, Chris was part of a group of Southern California mounted officers who were invited to ride in the Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington D.C. and in 2013, he and the Anaheim Mounted Unit rode in the Tournament of Roses Parade. In 2004, Chris was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and supervised the Mounted Unit for the next 10 years. In 2014, Chris was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and now is the police department’s Mounted Unit Commander. He is an active police trail trials competitor and helps train mounted units throughout the state in mounted crowd control, baton and defensive tactics.                                                           Chris was the 2016 California Mounted Officer of the Year and holds a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management.

TREASURER

Emily Herbst, Retired – Police Officer                                      Denver Police Department, CO                                           Mounted Unit                                                                                      [email protected]

Emily is a retired law enforcement officer with a career spanning from 2008 until her retirement in 2026. From 2021 through the end of her career, she was assigned to the Denver Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit (MPU), an assignment she valued for the partnership with the horses and the unique opportunity to engage with the community. During her time with the MPU, Emily served as lead fundraiser, helping secure sustained financial and community support for the unit and contributing to its strong standing throughout the Greater Denver area. She also assisted with managing the unit’s donation-funded budget, ensuring funds were used responsibly and transparently. As Treasurer for NAMUCA, Emily brings a strong commitment to accountability, sound financial stewardship, and thoughtful support of the organization’s mission. She is honored to continue serving the mounted law enforcement community in this role.

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

Andrew Stephens, Master Deputy                                            Orange County Sheriff’s Office, FL                                              Mounted Unit                                                              [email protected]

Andrew is currently a Master Deputy assigned to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit, which is a part of the Specialized Patrol Division. Andrew has been employed by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office since 2010 and has been a member of the Mounted Unit since 2015. Andrew was certified as a Mounted Instructor by the Toronto Police Service in 2023 and is currently one of the two lead training deputies for the unit. Andrew has assisted and ran multiple schools during his time with the mounted unit to include a basic and advance mounted rider school.

Regions Map 2025 (Click)

REGION 1 DIRECTOR

Carrie Neidigh, Sergeant                                                                  Pennsylvania State Police                                                              Tactical Mounted Unit                                                                         [email protected]

Carrie is currently a Sergeant in the Pennsylvania State Police.  She is the Tactical Mounted Section Supervisor, which is a part of the Special Services Division within the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations.  Carrie has been employed by the Pennsylvania State Police since 2002 and has been with the Mounted Section since 2010 and the Supervisor since 2016.  The Section currently has 25 horses and 6 full-time Members and 24 Field Riders.  Since taking over as Supervisor, she has helped New Jersey State Police and Pittsburgh Police Department with reinstating their Mounted Sections.  She has also worked closely with the Pennsylvania State Police’s Bureau of Training and Education with implementing both a single day Civil Disorder Course and a multiple day Mobile Field Course for Mounted Section Members and Ground Personnel.

REGION 2 DIRECTOR

Kara Kuras, Police Officer                                                              Fort Lauderdale Police Department, FL                                    Mounted Unit [email protected] 

         Kara has been with the City of Fort Lauderdale Police Department for 11 years, and full-time in the Mounted Unit for 8. She is also an Animal Crimes Investigator and handles animal calls on a callout basis.                                                                                                     In the Mounted Unit, she is the lead instructor for new riders and is responsible for the onboarding and training of new horses. The primary responsibilities of the Fort Lauderdale Mounted Unit include: daily downtown patrol, field force, crowd control, community engagement, ceremonial events, and large-scale special events. Kara has a passion for Equitation and improving the relationship between the horse and officer to make an effective and safe team. She also enjoys bringing mounted units together to train and preserve tradition. 

REGION 3 DIRECTOR

Esteban Arreguin, Police Officer                                                Milwaukee Police Department, WI                                          Mounted Unit     [email protected]

Esteban is currently a Police Officer assigned to the Milwaukee Police Department’s Mounted Unit, which is a part of the Specialized Patrol Division. Esteban has been employed by the Milwaukee Police Department since 2005 and has been a member of the Mounted Unit since 2017. Esteban was certified as a Mounted Instructor by the Toronto Police Service in 2023 and is currently the lead training officer for the unit. Since taking over the lead instructor position, Esteban has created curriculum and re-structured the unit’s 6 week basic mounted course. The unit consists of eight full time riders, one supervisor, and a herd of nine horses. The unit is housed at the MKE Urban Stables in Milwaukee, WI. This facility was raised in 2020 and is shared with a non-profit organization that offers Equine-Assisted Learning and Therapy Programs. This partnership, all under one roof, is the first of its kind in the nation and has cultivated great success for both the Mounted Unit and MKE Urban Stables. Esteban planned and coordinated three separate joint training sessions with riders and horses from multiple jurisdictions in preparation for the Republican National Convention, which was held in Milwaukee, WI in 2024. The RNC mounted deployment consisted of 24 horses and 28 riders, all of which were housed and operated out of the MKE Urban Stables. Esteban has been a member of NAMUCA since 2022

REGION 4 DIRECTOR

Christopher P. Adolph, Lieutenant                                              Harris County Sheriff’s Office, TX                                          Mounted Unit                                                            [email protected]

With over 32 years of dedicated service in law enforcement, Lt. Adolph offers a wealth of experience in mounted operations, tactical instruction, and unit leadership. Currently assigned to the Special Operations Division within the Special Enforcement Bureau of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Lt. Adolph leads the development of a new integrated Livestock/Mounted Unit. He also serves as the Supervisor over Mounted Operations for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, one of the largest events of its kind in the world, bringing together public safety, horsemanship, and community engagement on a grand scale.                                              Chris is the founder of his department’s Police ATV Program and remains an active instructor in various disciplines. His extensive mounted training and professional development include: Graduate of the Southern Police Institute / University of Louisville Mounted, Instructor School (2010), Graduate of the Leadership Development Institute (LDI) (2013), Graduate of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) (2024), Graduate of the Western States Mounted Instructor School (2023), Attended the Post-Mardi Gras Mounted School in New Orleans, Participated in National Police Week in Washington, D.C. with the mounted unit, Assistant Instructor with the Texas Unified Mounted Training.                        Lt. Adolph earned a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Leadership from Texas A&M University–Commerce and began his career with the Basic Peace Officer Certification from the University of Houston Downtown Criminal Justice Training Center in 1989. Outside of the uniform, Lt. Adolph is a lifelong horseman who trains and competes in working cow horse events. He actively serves in his church and cherishes time with his family. Chris’s appointment to NAMUCA’s Board of Directors is rooted in a commitment to strengthening mounted law enforcement through collaboration, innovation, and training excellence.

REGION 5 DIRECTOR

Eric Anderson, Sergeant                                                              Anaheim Police Department, CA                                            Mounted Enforcement Unit                          [email protected]

Sergeant Eric Anderson is a 16-year veteran of the Anaheim Police Department’s Mounted Enforcement Unit. Eric holds a POST instructor certificate in Mounted Patrol, Mobile Field Force, and Crowd Control. Eric is a former Board Director and President of the California Mounted Officers Association, teaching several Mounted Police Schools across California.                                             In 2019, Eric founded the Western States Mounted Officers Association (WSMOA), where he serves as its President. Eric’s role is to help implement, promote, and further develop mounted units across the western United States. Along with a great team of instructors, Eric travels across several states to ensure mounted units have the best tools, training, and resources to succeed.                                                                                           Eric has been awarded the California Mounted Officer’s Association Officer of the Year Award and the Professional Bull Riders Be Cowboy Award. He was also selected as a mentor for legendary equestrian and trainer Chris Cox’s Lead Changes youth program. Eric enjoys anything related to horses and rodeos, fishing, hunting, boating, and spending time with his two daughters and his wife.

REGION 6 DIRECTOR

Leanne Guthrie, Sergeant                                                            York Regional Police, Canada                                      Ceremonial Mounted Unit                                                   [email protected]

Leanne began her policing career in 2007 and is currently assigned to a frontline supervisory role, managing a large platoon. She brings a diverse background that includes over four years in Financial Crimes unit, seven years in the Criminal Investigations Bureau, and two years in Uniform Recruiting.                                         Leanne joined her service’s Ceremonial Mounted Unit in 2019 and was appointed the role of Commander in 2021. The unit is comprised entirely of part-time members, all of whom hold full-time positions within the police service. Mounted unit responsibilities are carried out either during regular work hours when approved by a member’s command or, in many cases, on members’ personal time. Under her leadership, the unit supports ceremonial functions and public engagements, representing the service with professionalism and pride.                                                                                                                                  Leanne began riding at the age of four and competed in hunter, jumper, equitation, and a handful of events disciplines. She has owned and cared for several horses and brings a lifelong commitment to horsemanship to her role in mounted policing.                                       She is currently developing a comprehensive business plan proposing the establishment of a full-time operational mounted unit within her police service. As part of the development, she coordinates with mounted services across Canada to gather best practices, operational insights, and training opportunities, with a goal of enhancing community engagement and operational capability.

REGION 7 DIRECTOR

Michael C. Gates, Captain                                                      United States Army                                         [email protected]

Michael Gates is an active-duty Captain in the U.S. Army. Captain Gates commanded 2 of the Army’s 6 remaining mounted units and co-founded the Combat Horsemanship Cavalry Association, an organization dedicated to aiding the military’s horse units. He commanded the Horse Detachment for the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Irwin, California followed by command of the Horse Cavalry Detachment of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Cavazos, Texas. He is the first commander of multiple Army horse-mounted cavalry units since the 1940’s.                                                                           Captain Gates has ridden in major events such as the Tournament of Roses Parade (Pasadena, California) and the Lord Mayor’s Parade (London, England). In 2023, Captain Gates hosted a summit for military equestrian unit leaders to share strategies, best practices, and align on future direction of the units. In 2024 he created the Mounted Military Invitational, an equestrian competition designed to promote cavalry skills for the military, law enforcement, and civilian enthusiasts.                             Captain Gates graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering from the Virginia Military Institute and was commissioned as an Engineer Officer in 2017. He served as a Platoon Leader and Company-Grade Executive Officer in an engineering company prior to command of the equestrian units.