Solano County CHP Captain honored at Capitol

Assemblywoman names Captain Susan Ward the 8th District’s ‘Woman of the Year’

SACRAMENTO–During its celebration of Women’s History Month today, the California Assembly honored California Highway Patrol (CHP) Captain Susan Ward as the 8th Assembly District’s 2007 Woman of the Year.

“Captain Ward is an exceptional officer who has dedicated herself to providing a safer environment for all of us who live and work in Solano County,” said Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis), who selected Ward for the honor. “In celebrating Women’s History Month, we remember how much women’s roles have progressed over the centuries. One need only look at her accomplishments to see how far we’ve come.”

Ward, who joined the CHP in 1986, worked in Los Angeles and the Bay Area before moving to Solano County in 1999. During her almost three-year tenure as Commander of Solano County Headquarters, Ward has taken great strides to increase safety measures and enforcement in the region. She has helped institute programs to reduce street crime and vehicle theft, working with the Fairfield Police Department during a sweep that led to a number of arrests and recovered vehicles.

In 2005 she worked closely with Caltrans to install a median barrier along Interstate 80 between Fairfield and Vacaville, after insufficient safety measures led to two head-on collisions with multiple fatalities. Currently, she is working with the Solano Transportation Authority to increase funding for safety improvements on Highway 12. 

“Captain Ward has played a critical role in ranking Highway 12 as a top priority for state funding and increasing enforcement along this dangerous stretch of road,” Wolk said. “For this and many other reasons, I am proud to name her the 8th Assembly District’s Woman of the Year.”    

“This is a great honor,” said Captain Ward. “I am lucky to work with a great staff I can rely on, officers whose commitment to the goals and missions of the CHP make my job a lot easier. And I am lucky to work with people like Assemblywoman Wolk, who has been so supportive of projects like Highway 12.”  

After a reception with Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, Captain Ward and the other women of the year were honored on the Assembly Floor in a ceremony highlighted by a speech by Stockton-born poet and women’s activist Janice Mirikitani, who advocated equal rights, healthcare, and pay for women.