Lancaster County swears in mounted response unit for coroner’s search-and-recovery work

Lancaster County officials announced the swearing-in of a Mounted Response Unit to support the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office in search-and-recovery operations, county Administrator Dennis Marshall said.

The unit, developed beginning in February 2024, consists of trained riders and horses equipped to access wooded and hard-to-reach areas where vehicles cannot go, Sierra Kirby, communications and social media specialist, said during the county’s January 17 recording. The unit will work alongside law enforcement, emergency services and search-and-rescue teams to aid searches for missing persons and evidence recovery.

"Designed to assist in search and recovery operations, especially in wooded and hard to reach areas, these units consist of highly trained riders and horses equipped to navigate through tough terrain where vehicles cannot go," Kirby said. Marshall also thanked the coroner: "We want to give a special thanks to Coroner Carla Dees for her leadership and vision in making this unit a reality. Congratulations to the newly sworn in Mountain Response Unit members. Your service will make a lasting impact on our community."

Marshall later described the effort as an example of the coroner’s office innovating service delivery "with the mounted horses," noting the units add capability where vehicles are impractical. The recording did not specify budget, number of riders sworn in, or the ongoing command structure for the unit.

County officials said the unit will operate in coordination with existing public-safety partners; specific activation protocols, training standards and funding sources were not specified in the recording.