The National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE) celebrated the Motorola Solutions - Woman Law Enforcement Executive of the Year (WoLEEY) winner last month. This award honors a leader within law enforcement who has risen to the challenge to serve and protect her community, all while making it her mission to lead, inspire and mentor women within the profession.

This year, Motorola Solutions congratulates 2023 recipient Chief Kristen Roman of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department. 

“Throughout her career, Chief Roman has been a fierce advocate for women in law enforcement,” said Carrie Hemmen, territory vice president, Motorola Solutions. “She continually strives to reach greater heights, and everything she does is rooted in integrity, empathy and respect. It is an honor to present her with this award, one she truly embodies.”

A 32-year veteran, Chief Roman has devoted her career to law enforcement. As the current chief of police for the University of Wisconsin–Madison Police Department, she oversees field operations for the downtown/Isthmus district, working closely with students, administrators and police. Previously, Chief Roman spent 26 years with the city of Madison Police Department. During her tenure, she was the first captain appointed to oversee the department’s Community Outreach Section. In this role, she proposed, developed and implemented a plan to establish a dedicated team of officers to address mental health-related incidents. Its goal is to divert people with mental illness away from the criminal justice system and instead connect them to necessary treatment.

Chief Roman has long been dedicated to advancing women in the workplace. This commitment has earned her recognition at both local and national levels. Most recently, she received an invitation to participate in a national summit in Washington, D.C., where she shared information and discussed promising initiatives for women in her field. Her peers characterize her as a champion dedicated to empowering women and doing so with genuine passion. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion continues to be a source of inspiration, and she forges new paths for women in their professional and personal endeavors. She is a devoted mentor to her colleagues and has developed peer support and mental health liaison programs. She was also an early adopter of the 30x30 Initiative, which aims to increase the percentage of women in policing to 30% by 2030.

Chief Roman is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators' Development Institute.

Since NAWLEE’s inception 28 years ago, Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) has been honored to be the founding partner and has sponsored the WoLEEY award since it was established. The company is committed to recognizing and advancing women in law enforcement and public safety careers. Its broader philanthropic efforts, in coordination with the Motorola Solutions Foundation, include support for women in technology and engineering through corporate volunteerism, employee giving and the Foundation’s annual grants program.