We are excited to be back with our next Participating Officer Highlight! From an agency you already know and love, we are excited to tell you all about Sergeant Nathan Padrta!
This month marks Sergeant Padrta’s 11th year of being an officer. He spent 4 years as an officer for Oak Harbor Police Department and has been an officer for Pullman Police Department for the past 7 years. Not to mention, he recently got promoted to Sergeant in April! (Congratulations Sergeant on 11 years and the promotion!).
He has been participating in BlueBridge since it started back in 2022. He is one of our most frequent users at Pullman PD. We have enjoyed seeing the ways he has used BlueBridge over the years. A time he has used BlueBridge that has really stuck with him, wasn’t actually his purchase. He had a colleague use their BlueBridge card to pay for an individual’s dump fees- so that they could clean up their property instead of getting a ticket. “This stuck with me because it provided that individual with a means to resolve a problem that they would have otherwise been unable to resolve. It turned Law Enforcement from being the people that just write tickets to resolve problems to being the people that can provide the means to resolve a problem.”
Sergeant Padrta shared that having BlueBridge changed his perspective on community policing by allowing him to have options when contacting individuals. “Instead of saying I wish that I could do something for this person, it gives me the means to be able to say that I can do something for this person.”
In fact, at one point he responded to a domestic violence call reporting an argument between a mother and father. Recognizing the conflict stemmed from a lack of diapers, he utilized the BlueBridge resource to purchase them for the child, bypassing previous, often-times temporary solutions. This practical assistance addressed the root cause directly and demonstrated genuine care from the department, offering the parents support beyond simply managing the immediate argument.
Sergeant Padrta even shared a moment where he felt like he was able to build trust in the community with BlueBridge. He arrested an individual on a warrant who was known to have a negative perception of law enforcement. Understanding her concern for her special needs child, he used BlueBridge to purchase a necessary nutrition drink for the child’s care during her absence. This act of compassion aimed to lessen the mother’s worry while she was in custody. Sergeant Padrta believed this level of care was likely a profoundly different experience of law enforcement for her.
We appreciate Sergeant Padrta sharing his perspective and compelling experiences. His dedication demonstrates how BlueBridge helps officers foster trust and find practical solutions, turning “I wish I could help” into direct action.
Stories like his highlight the core BlueBridge mission: empowering officers to make a tangible difference and build stronger community ties. We’re proud to share these impactful examples of compassionate policing and hope they inspire you.
If Sergeant Padrta’s story resonated, consider supporting the Pullman Police Department’s specific BlueBridge fund here: https://bluebridgealliance.org/pullmanwapd/
If you want to donate to Bluebridge as a whole- we would love to invite you on this journey! Your support can make a world of difference. Please consider making a donation today and become a part of the BlueBridge Alliance family. You can make a general donation here: https://bluebridgealliance.org/donate/ General Donations help BlueBridge bring programs to more communities!