Brevard County Sheriff’s Office ‘Paws and Stripes’ Co-Creator Passes Away

By  //  March 4, 2016

Suzan-Kundrat-580
Suzan Kundrat, one of the co-creators of the original “Paws and Stripes” program, had passed away. (BCSO Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – This week, our agency learned that Suzan Kundrat, one of the co-creators of the original “Paws and Stripes” program, had passed away.

Suzan was involved in so many positive efforts in our community, but without question, one of her greatest passions was the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office “Paws and Stripes” program.

In 2004, Suzan and Yvette Parker conceived the  Paws and Stripes  that pairs rescue dogs with female inmates, who help train the dogs to be better suited and prepared for adoption.

The program partners with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services Unit, Central Brevard Humane Society, the SPCA and other local rescues, and has been recognized throughout the years for not only finding forever homes for the dogs, but also in forever impacting the life of the inmates.

Through the program, the inmates develop responsibility, compassion and job skills that can be utilized as they prepare for re-entry back into the community after serving their sentence.

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Today, the program is known as the “Paws and Stripes College,” as it has evolved into an even larger program that trains rescue dogs in numerous skill sets while working hand in hand with local Animal Care Center partners and Eastern Florida State College to find forever homes for our furry friends.

Suzan’s compassion for animals in our community, her passion for the Paws and Stripes program and her ability to make an idea into reality will forever be the footprint and legacy of this program. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Please keep Suzan’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey

Prior to being elected in 2012, Sheriff Ivey served the citizens of the State of Florida as a Resident Agent in Charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As a member of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff Ivey developed and created the country’s first ever statewide Task Force on Identity Theft.

That same year the Task Force was named one of the top five most innovative programs in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and investigated approximately 44 million dollars in fraud cases. Additionally, as a member of FDLE, Sheriff Ivey created the Child Abduction Response Team (C.A.R.T) that re-defined the way Child Abduction cases are conducted throughout the country today.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.

The program was later selected as the most innovative program in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is now used as a nationwide model in the response and investigation of child abductions.

Sheriff Ivey has testified before the United States Congress on law enforcement related matters and has extensive experience in the area of Public Integrity Investigations. Sheriff Ivey was honored as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Special Agent of the Year (1996) and was also recognized by the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for his Outstanding Contributions to Criminal Justice. In August of 2011 Sheriff Ivey was honored by the National Organization of Victims Advocacy for his work at the national level as an advocate of victim’s rights and protection.

Sheriff Ivey speaks regularly on topics such as Identity Theft, Crime in America, Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Self Defense through Mental Preparedness. Sheriff Ivey firmly believes that Crime Prevention and Education are vital to reduce our crime rate and protect our community.