NBPD Spotlight – S2, E1: “You’re worthy and you’re more than capable of doing the job.”

“My name is Catia Andrade, I’m 26 years old and I’ve been with the New Bedford Police Department since December 2022.”

“I was born and raised in Cape Verde from Brava Island. I moved here with my dad when I was about 12 years old. I wasn’t really a fan of it because I didn’t know anyone, it was a brand new country, and I had to go to a brand new school where I didn’t know anyone. Barely spoke the language, but I got to meet some wonderful friends who I’m still in contact with.”

“I’m a mother, I have a five-year-old boy. He tells everyone, “Mommy’s a police officer,” and he tells me how much he wants to be a police officer like Mommy.”

“I’ve always been interested in law enforcement ever since I was a child. I’m inspired by everything they do. I’m very passionate about, you know, helping people and just being there, being the first one on a call to, you know, save someone’s life.

[Traffic Stop]: “The reason I stopped you is because your brake light is out.” Everything’s coming back active, his license is active, registration. I’m just going to give him a verbal warning and give him a lights-on voucher. “So I’m just going to let you go with a verbal warning. I gave you a lights-on voucher so you could get that fixed.”

“I love the fact that I’m bilingual because I know there’s a lot of people that come here that are Cape Verdean and they come here and they struggle a lot. So I love the fact that I’m there.”

“I know what it’s like to be caught up in a bad situation and I just want people to know that they’re not alone. There’s always going to be someone there to help them or get them through whatever it is that they’re going through at that time.”

 

 

“Before I started the academy, I had, I had positive comments, and I did get a lot of negative comments. People would tell me, “Oh, you will never graduate the academy. You’re not going to get through it,” simply because I’m a female. And that pushed me a lot. And I just told myself, you know what, because you’re saying that, now I’m going to prove to you that I will graduate the academy and that I will make it.

“Women that are in law enforcement usually get a lot of hate because people just automatically assume they can’t do the job simply because they’re a woman and they don’t think that we’re strong enough for the job. But I do have a message for all the women out there that are interested in law enforcement. You’re worthy and you’re more than capable of doing the job. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise because that’s how you lose on a great opportunity.”

“I love my job, I love the department I work for, and the people I work with, they’re absolutely amazing. We always have each other’s back, we always show up to each other’s calls. It doesn’t matter what type of call it is like someone’s always there with you.”

“This job has really shaped me to become a better version of myself and I’m really happy to be here. I thank Detective Sergeant Rodrigues for going above and beyond for me and Captain Paul DaCosta for giving me this opportunity.”

“I feel at home, I feel very comfortable here.”