CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - A mother, community advocate, and local police captain is inspiring people around her daily. Beyond her badge, Captain Holly Cote is making sure those around her constantly feel safe and inspired to be the change they wish to see in their community. And this year she's no minated as a finalist for our region's Remarkable Women campaign. "It was a life goal for me," Cote said. "But also it really means a lot to me that I can show the youth, young girls and teenagers, that they can put their minds to it and do anything." 2025 Remarkable Woman nominee feeds her community Protecting, serving, and enhancing the lives of those in her community, Captain Cote was nominated as a Remarkable Woman here in western Massachusetts. She is well-known for her generosity and becoming the first female captain of the Chicopee Police Department. "I was a patrol officer on the midnight shift," Cote said. "About two and a half years in, I went to the Detective Bureau, then I went to the School Resource Officer position. But then I wanted to get promoted, so then I took the test and became Sergeant. Right around 2003 I became Sergeant and went back to the Detective Bureau as a Detective Sergeant." "I was there for a few years, then I became a lieutenant, went to Patrol as a lieutenant, and then back to the Detective Bureau as a lieutenant. And then in 2017, we were doing a major renovation and I became the chief's liaison and the Community Engagement Officer, as well as helping with the renovation project, and then I made Captain." Beyond her successful career in law enforcement, her passion is helping the youth. Despite long days answering calls in the middle of the night, serving others is what brings her joy. Three former Remarkable Women nominees build friendship over the years "I started about seven years ago with the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee, the Youth Police Academy," Cote said. "It is to reduce gang violence within the youth. Every year we have a group of youth that come through for a week and they get to see kind of a shortened version of the police academy and they get to see what all the police officers do and they get to build relationships. We've had over probably 150 kids go through and it is one of my favorite things." Captain Cote also teaches self defense to women and children in the "RAD" program. She leads the Chicopee Police Department Critical Incident Stress Management Team, and helped bring Narcan along with the "DART" program to her department, ensuring those affected by opioid use disorder and their families get the support they need. "For the past 12 years, I have kind of made it my life's mission to collect clothing for the Springfield Rescue Mission," Cote said. "First I just did it myself, went through my closet and saw what I needed, and then my friends started getting involved." Helping others is a goal the captain has always tried to fulfill and she hopes to continue motivating those around her. "My whole family is involved in service-- my husband is a police officer, my son is a firefighter, and my younger son is going to become an electrician," Cote said. "Every event we go to, we try to get all the family involved. A lot of people kind of see me and they're like, 'Hmm she looks familiar,' and then they realize, 'I remember her from National Night Out or Downtown Get Down,' and it's just about giving back to the community. And I wouldn't have it any other way." Right now the Chicopee Police Department has 13 women, the most they've ever had, and two more are currently in the police academy. Cote says that giving back, helping youth, and inspiring people is her lifelong passion. Local News Headlines Greenfield Public Library to close March 28 for staff training Partial solar eclipse visible in New England this weekend Consumer confidence drops to lowest level in 12 years The “X” intersection project set to begin this spring WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less