
Get Involved
In addition to health, time is the most precious commodity on earth. How we spend our time demonstrates what is most important to us. Spending time helping others is a win-win for everyone.
There are many ways to get involved with the MRU…these are just some of the ways we moving forward so far…
Mounted Search, Rescue, Recovery, Evidence Identification, and Medicolegal Death Investigation
Qualifications: Mounted Search and Rescue work is physically demanding, it requires trained skills, and stamina. Individuals who have a minimum of five years of regular horsemanship and solid riding experience, or who are accomplished riders, or trainers, etc., with no criminal record, and who have no physical limitations that would compromise their health and/or safety are welcome to apply.
Mounted Search and Rescue Training: Mounted Search and Rescue volunteers are required to attend 50% of all offered LCCO MRU mounted trainings and 50% of all classroom trainings throughout a calendar year from January 1st to December 31st.
Mounted Training: 3-hour disciplined law-enforcement-type training courses held once-a-month on a Sunday afternoon. Mounted Search and Rescue Trainings are not follow-the-leader trail rides or social gatherings. Training formats are similar to clinics and group lessons, but are formal events for MRU Mounted Volunteers. Curriculum includes relaxation clinics, loading, The Ten Basics, Obstacles, Formations, and Search and Rescue education. *We do not do offer crowd control service, but we train crowd control for educational purposes.
Practicing Turnout: “Turnout” means how you and your horse turn out for a training. All LCCO MRU trainings are formal uniformed events giving every equine-rider team the opportunity to practice proper turn out for public events. Horses are expected to arrive clean and prepared. Equipment and tack is expected to arrive in good repair, clean, and prepared. Riders are expected to arrive clean, in uniform, and prepared. Disheveled horses and/or riders and/or faulty equipment will be required to remedy the situation before allowed to participate per Commander Pettler.
Socializing is not permitted during training. We welcome socializing during our Pot Luck Social Hour that follows every mounted training.
Classroom Training: 2-hour disciplined law-enforcement-type training courses held once-a-month on a weeknight evening. They are informal, no uniforms required, but are encouraged. are not social gatherings.
Ranking System: The LCCO MRU has it’s own ranking system for all Mounted Search and Rescue Volunteers. All horses and rider certifications are approved by Deputy Coroner Commander Dr. Laura Pettler:
T-MSAR (Trainee Mounted Search and Rescue Volunteer) - New applicants accepted to the unit who are beginning training to certify to deploy
T1-MSAR (Trainee 1 Mounted Search and Rescue Volunteer) - T-MSARs who have passed Certification Test 1
T2-MSAR (Trainee 2 Mounted Search and Rescue Volunteer) - T-MSARs who have passed Certification Tests 1 and 2
T3-MSAR (Trainee 3 Mounted Search and Rescue Volunteer) - T-MSARs who have passed Certification Tests 1, 2, and 3
C-MSAR (Certified Search and Rescue Volunteer) - T3-MSARs who have passed Certification Tests 1, 2, 3, and 4 earn the new rank of C-MSAR.
C1-MSAR (Certified Mounted Search and Rescue Volunteer) - After one year of service
C2-MSAR (Certified Mounted Search and Rescue Volunteer) - After two years of service
C3-MSAR (Certified Mounted Search and Rescue Volunteer) - After three years of service
S-MSAR (Senior Certified Mounted Search and Rescue Volunteer) - After three years of service, C3-MSARs earn the new rank of S-MSAR
As of March 1, 2025, Mounted Volunteers and their horses must train and pass four certification tests on an annual basis to achieve the rank of the LCCO MRU’s Certified Mounted Search and Rescue Volunteer (C-MSAR). Horses and riders can certify individually.
Certification Test 1: Loading your horse into two different trailers five minutes apart
Certification Test 2: The Basic Ten Riding Skills:
Walk
Trot
Canter
Halt, Rein back
Turn on the Forehand left
Turn on the Forehand right
Turn on the Haunches left
Turn on the Haunches right
Leg yield left
Leg yield right
Certification Test 3: Search Pattern and Formation
Certification Test 4: The LCCO MRU Timed Obstacle Course
Non-Mounted Equine Management and Deployment Support
Deployment Equine Management - supplies, grooming, tack, equipment, walking horses, assisting veterinarians and farriers, and more…
Event Equine Management - grooming, tacking, presenting horses for the public
Community Outreach
Schools
Nursing homes
Domestic Violence Survivors
Veterans, EMS, Law Enforcement, and other First Responders
MRU Infrastructure
Committees
Deployment & Events Committee - This committee is Chaired by Jennifer Candela and is overseen by Deputy Coroner Logistics Director Alexis Pettler. Committee members report to Jennifer Candela.
Fundraising Committee - This committee is Chaired by vacant and is overseen by Deputy Coroner Logistics Director Alexis Pettler. Committee members report to the Chair.
Awards Committee - This committee is Chaired by vacant and is overseen by Deputy Coroner Logistics Director Alexis Pettler. Committee members report to the Chair.
Volunteer Coordination Committee - This committee is Chaired by vacant and is overseen by Deputy Coroner Logistics Director Alexis Pettler. Committee members report to the Chair.
MRU Explorers Program
MRU Deputy Coroner Director of Logistics Alexis Pettler and her team run the MRU Explorers Program. MRU Explorers must be 14-18 years old and have parent permission to participate. MRU Explorers are not mounted searchers. They may participate in community outreach and lots of other educational and fun events.
How to Apply to Volunteer in the MRU:
Before you apply: Download this form: Lancaster County Coroner’s Office Mounted Response Unit Volunteer Background Investigation Authorization and Release to Obtain Information Form. Complete the form with a Notary. You need this form to upload with your application. You cannot apply without uploading this form with your application.
Click here to open the Lancaster County Coroner's Office Mounted Response Unit Volunteer Application. Complete the form. Attach a photo of you driver’s license and your completed and notarized Lancaster County Coroner’s Office Mounted Response Unit Volunteer Background Investigation Authorization and Release to Obtain Information Form then click submit.
The Coroner’s Office will be in touch with the results of your SLED Background Investigation.