Officer Ann Marie Carrizales was born in San Clemente, California. Upon graduation, she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where she was named an Honor Graduate and Meritoriously Promoted upon graduating boot camp in Parris Island, SC. After attending military law enforcement training in San Antonio, Texas, she began her Military Police career and excelled in various duties such as Patrol, Vehicle Registration & Inspections, Criminal Investigation Division’s Juvenile/Gang Enforcement Team, and Primary Marksmanship Instructor. Carrizales successfully completed various leadership courses, developed and instructed a base wide gang awareness course, was the Battalion High Shooter, and maintained a perfect physical fitness test score for the majority of her military career. She excelled in her specialty, reaching the rank of Sergeant before receiving an honorable discharge in 1998.
While on active military duty, Officer Carrizales made Marine Corps history when she became the FIRST WOMAN to represent the Marine Corps in the sport of amateur boxing and was ultimately inducted into the All-Marine Boxing Hall of Fame. In 1999, Carrizales became the U.S. Women’s National Light Welterweight Champion/Gold Medalist, ranked #1 in the country. She would once again become a part of history by being selected to compete on the first Women’s U.S. International Boxing Team representing the United States in Turku, Finland. While there, she earned one of two silver medals for the U.S. and a #2 world ranking. In November 2000, she won her professional boxing debut before placing her career on hold to move her ailing parents back to Corpus Christi, Texas. She continued to serve her community as a Police Dispatcher with various police agencies from before earning her Texas Peace Officer License and re-entering her law enforcement career.
In August of 2010, Officer Carrizales began employment with the Stafford (TX) Police Department. She played a vital role within her department serving as a Field Training Officer, R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) Instructor and Police Instructor. Officer Carrizales also served on the East Fort Bend County Regional SWAT Team as a Crisis Negotiator. She was voted Officer of The Year two years (2012-2013) in a row, an unprecedented achievement within the department.
On October 26, 2013, Officer Carrizales initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by three members of a violent gang known as MS-13. While speaking with the driver, a suspect opened fire, shooting her in the face and chest prior to fleeing. Carrizales immediately returned fire and while bleeding and in severe pain, got back into her patrol vehicle and began pursuit of the suspects. With the help of various police agencies and Houston Crime Stoppers, all three suspects were captured.
U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder (Presented by Congressman Pete Olson): Congressional Badge of Bravery 2014.
Other accomplishments: American Police Hall of Fame: Silver Star 2014; Houston Crime Stoppers: Johnny Klevenhagen Award 2014; Texas Gang Investigators Assn (TGIA): TGIA President’s Award 2014; State of Texas, Governor Rick Perry: Peace Officer Star of Texas Award (Governor’s Award) 2014; International Assn of Women Police (IAWP): International Medal of Valor 2014; Hispanic American Police Command Officers Assn (HAPCOA): Gold Medal of Valor 2014; SW Rotary 59: Service Above Self Award 2013; Stafford Police Department: Law Enforcement Purple Heart 2014; Meadows Place Police Department: Chief’s Award 2018; California Narcotic Officers’ Assn (CNOA): Instructor of The Year 2019; Relentless Defender Foundation: first recipient of the eponymous Ann Carrizales Bravery Award 2019, Highly sought after, nationally and Internationally Public Speaker; and many more.
Ann ended her employment with the Stafford Police Department in 2015 and is currently employed by the Meadows Place (TX) Police Department. She is a Brand Ambassador for Relentless Defender Apparel and serves on the Board of Directors for the Relentless Defender Foundation and the International Association of Women Police as the Region 8 Coordinator. Ann is the owner/creator of “The Fight After the Fight” series which offers a series of live and virtual emotional and mental resilience training as well as peer support and life coaching services. She is working hard to complete her much anticipated first book and podcast.
Carrazales was one of 13 Women Cop Who Box to be honored at our International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame event that took place on April 4, 2025, the first day of the IWBHF Event.
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