We’re overdue for our second ever Agency Program Director (APD) Highlight!
As you may already know, each BlueBridge program is run by someone at our partner law enforcement agency who steps up to the plate and volunteers to run it. These individuals are crucial to the BlueBridge program and the longevity of programs at the local level. We admire each and every one of our APDs and the work they put in to make our vision of BlueBridge come to life.
Today, we’re excited to talk about the one and only Deputy Chief Brian Coats with the Redmond Police Department. Deputy Chief Coats has been serving the city of Redmond since 1991 and has done a little bit of everything. No literally- check out his bio on Redmond.gov (https://www.redmond.gov/1230/Police-Command-Staff) to read about his career. He received his promotion to Deputy chief on February 1st of last year. His experience is something we truly cherish, we are always learning something new from him!
Deputy Chief Coats has been an Agency Program Director for the past 8 months for the Redmond BlueBridge program. In fact he was the one who reached out to get the program started after hearing about it at one of Brian’s WASPC webinars. “When I first heard about BlueBridge, it just made sense. Like so many others in this profession, I’ve reached into my own wallet to help someone in need, because sometimes people just need a little support in the moment. This program gives officers the ability to offer that help directly, with the backing of the community. What makes it special is that it’s entirely funded through local donations, and those contributions are returned to the community through meaningful interactions with police officers. I took on the program director role to help lead this effort in Redmond, to ensure it’s used with care and purpose, and to support our officers as they build trust one contact at a time,” says Deputy Chief Coats.
Over the course of the past 8 months, Redmond has seen BlueBridge make a noticeable difference in their community. They have found that they often use BlueBridge for a quick tank of gas for someone who is stranded or a hotel stay for the night for a victim of domestic violence. “It’s given our officers a way to help people in a really direct, human way,” (DC Coats). These interactions help build trust, as officers are able to show that they aren’t just enforcing the law, but helping individuals when they can. “BlueBridge gives our officers a simple but powerful way to meet people in their moment of need. It’s not a program that tries to solve every problem, it focuses on the immediate, practical ones like food, fuel, clothing, and shelter. When someone is cold, stranded, or hungry, an officer can step in with direct help on the spot, which builds trust, and it creates a memory,” Deputy Chief Coats states.
The Redmond Police Department has helped roughly over 200 people so far with their BlueBridge program, and that number continues to grow. They are always looking for ways to connect with their community and leave a long lasting impact. We are proud that BlueBridge helps play a role in helping them do just that!
Deputy Chief Coats runs his BlueBridge program with determination and grace. He makes sure that BlueBridge is a resource that will always be available for his community and his officers. He is always looking for new ways to spread the word about their program. In fact, he was the first Agency Program Director to obtain body cam footage to showcase what BlueBridge interactions look like in real time! We admire his hard work and dedication to not only his career, but to his role at BlueBridge as well.
Consider making a donation to the Redmond Police Department’s BlueBridge fund today and help them in continuing to make a difference in their community! You can donate to Redmond PD’s BlueBridge program here: https://bluebridgealliance.org/redmondwapd/.
We encourage you to check out Redmond PD’s bodycam footage of them using the program!