CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray announces retirement

Amanda Ray, the first woman elected to lead the California Highway Patrol. She will retire just over two years after Governor Gavin Newsom appointed her.

Ray, 56, who has held every uniform rank in the state police, will retire as CHP commissioner on Dec. 30, the CHP unexpectedly announced Friday afternoon in a news release. She oversaw a law enforcement agency with over 11,000 employees second only to the New York City Police Department, with an annual budget of approximately $3 billion.

“I am proud to have served as Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol for the past two years,” Ray said in a statement. “I am confident the division will continue to thrive through the dedication and compassion of the wonderful women and men of this great organization.”

CHP did not provide any explanation as to why Ray is now retiring, nor indicated that this was a planned departure from the CHP, where she has worked for 32 years.

In a prepared remark, Gov. Gavin Newsom called Ray a “firm partner” in protecting California while building a “more representative CHP.”

“Commissioner Ray, who rises through the ranks to become the first woman to lead the CHP, will inspire the next generation of women and men to step up to serve our communities with compassion and understanding.” Newsom said, “We thank her for her dedicated leadership and service over 30 years at CHP and wish her every success in the future.”

She began her career in 1990 with CHP in South Los Angeles and rose to Sergeant and later Lieutenant in the Santa Fe Springs area. She has also served as Commander in the Riverside and Hayward areas and as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Golden Shegate and Inland areas.

She was promoted to the CHP’s executive management team and was Deputy Commissioner until Newsom appointed her as Commissioner on November 17, 2020.

Ray succeeds retired CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. She was her second black to head the agency, after Stanley. Under Ray’s leadership, CHP launches campaign to hire 1,000 new officers in the coming years to make up for the staggering number of job openings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CHP officials said on Friday that Ray’s vast field experience has enabled him to function effectively as an incident commander during the CHP’s “response to COVID-19, civil unrest and wildfires.” On December 31st, Deputy Commissioner Sean Duryea will serve on the CHP’s Alternate Board.

“I am very honored to have the opportunity to serve as Acting Commissioner,” Duryet said in a news release.

This story was originally published December 16, 2022 at 4:30 PM.