Iva Katrina Conner
Virginia Beach Police Department - Mounted Patrol
Virginia Beach, VA
Master Police Officer Iva Katrina Conner was nominated by Maria Deibert of Squid Financial, LLC.
Master Police Officer Conner, a dedicated police officer for ten years, has made a significant impact on the community. She has supported the Friends of the Virginia Beach Mounted Police, a 501(c)(3) organization, for the past three years. The Friends of the Virginia Beach Mounted Police Organization has provided the funding to board 14 Draft horses, thereby enhancing the safety and security of Virginia Beach.
She also supports EQUI-KIDS, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides life-changing equine-assisted services to a diverse community. This community includes children and adults with special needs, active-duty service members, veterans, and first responders in Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Her commitment to this diverse group is a testament to her inclusive and caring nature.
Master Police Officer Conner has been a member of the Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol for the past three years. Her certifications as a Crisis Intervention Team Instructor, FBI Hostage Negotiator, and Peer Support Team Member have earned her fellow officers' respect and trust. She has the honor of being on the "Call Out List" for her department in service to the community.
As a member of the Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol, Master Police Officer Conner integrates her wealth of knowledge and experience by providing a calm presence with her Suffolk Punch (heritage breed) horse named Apollo to thousands of Virginia residents and out-of-state guests. The police officers and horses of the Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol receive positive feedback from the community because of the hundreds of law enforcement patrols they provide each year.
Master Police Officer Conner, her horse Apollo, and the Virginia Beach Mounted Police Patrol serve the community with their presence at the Virginia Beach oceanfront in the summertime. They patrol and present at outdoor concerts, city parades, shopping centers, high school football games, carnivals at Mt. Trashmore Park, neighborhoods, and Police Week in Washington, DC.
The Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol and Master Police Officer Conner's duties include the following community tours held at the barn: Trunk or Treat, where the police officers and horses are dressed in costumes; school field trips; daycare field trips; church field trips; senior living facility field trips; Boy Scouts; homeschoolers; and Civic League Groups. As a police officer of the Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol, it is also a part of her duty to care for the horses and barn maintenance.
Master Police Officer Conner jointly operates the EQUI-KIDS program for the EQUI-HEROES First Responder Program, which holds two sessions a year and serves six officers per session. This program allows participants to be in a supportive environment where they can focus on themselves, de-stress, focus on well-being, and have fun. Services are provided at no cost to the participants for their dedication to protecting the community.
Master Police Officer Conner plans to continue to volunteer and support the mission of EQUI-KIDS to provide, promote, and support equine-assisted activities and programs for individuals with mental, physical, emotional, social, or learning disabling conditions. EQUI-KIDS offers Therapeutic riding, EQUI-VETS Military Service Program, EQUI-HEROES First Responder Program, Job Coaching, School Partnership Program, Horse Camp, Mental Health Services, and Speech Therapy.