SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) announced today that she has recognized Corcoran Police Chief Margarita “Maggie” Ochoa as the 16th Senate District Woman of the Year.

“Rooted in the heart of the Valley, Chief Maggie Ochoa embodies the sacred bond of family, the fight for community safety, and the enduring values of hard work and resilience,” Senator Hurtado said. “As Corcoran’s first female and Latina police chief, she has broken barriers while protecting our families with both fierce and compassionate strength — reflecting the path many women take to claim their place in leadership. Her quiet Valley resilience turns adversity into advocacy, making public safety a promise kept for our children.”

Ochoa was named Chief of Police in Corcoran in 2024 after 24 years of service as an officer with the Lemoore Police Department, where she consistently achieved positions of increased responsibility.

In addition to her primary law enforcement responsibilities, Ochoa has served as a public safety instructor for the Kings County Office of Education and as adjunct staff for the Tulare Kings Police Academy. Ochoa has also contributed extensively to numerous county and regional multidisciplinary teams and advisory committees.

A first-generation college graduate with degrees in Administration of Justice, Criminal Justice Management and Organizational Leadership, Ochoa began her career in law enforcement at the age of 21 as a reserve officer with the King City Police Department.

The annual legislative “Woman of the Year” celebration was founded in 1987 by Assemblywoman Bev Hansen (R) and Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D) after they noticed that there were no events planned for the month of March recognizing Woman’s History Month. They arranged to invite one woman from each of the 120 California State Senate and Assembly Districts, to celebrate and honor their accomplishments. This has become an annual event, organized by the California Legislative Women’s Caucus as a way to celebrate the contributions women make to society.

Senator Melissa Hurtado is Chair of Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 on State Administration and General Government and currently represents the 16th Senate District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern Counties.

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