Before heading out for work as a Maine State Trooper, Bethany Robinson sits on the edge of her sofa, pouring over and grumbling about various personal and work texts, while her son Cody, lounges, paying more attention to the fact that his mom needs the phone and he can’t play with it anymore.
Layers, not just a metaphor for Bethany’s life, but a reality in clothing. Base layer of a bra and white t-shirt, then a bullet proof vest, followed by a wool button up uniform shirt, stretched tightly across her chest. Long black socks, heavy boots, wool pants. Then a belt, array of self defense tools, a gun, taser, night stick, flashlight, hand cuffs, knife, bullets, walkie-talkie. Its 85 degrees outside.
A call comes in alerting officers to a car accident, where the driver and possible passenger have taken off running in the woods. Bethany reaches the scene as K-9 units are combing the woods. The driver, drunk, and on probation, is missing, and the girlfriend initially seemed worried and helpful to officers. After some intense questioning, Bethany believes she is lying and detains the woman for further questions. The dogs keep circling the residence, and the man is ultimately found hiding above the ceiling of the shed. He is taken into custody and the woman is released.
It’s her ex-husband’s week to have the kids up north where he lives, about an hour and a half from Bethany. Bethany pulls over to the side of the road while on duty to answer a Face Time call from her daughter Cole, who’s having a fun week with her dad.
Although always a bit of a tomboy, and perpetually dressed in grays and blacks by choice, Bethany adds a bit of femininity to her life and profession with a small braid she integrates into her bun, and sparkly eye shadow.
“I don’t understand how people relax. If I sit down to watch a movie I get anxious, I think about everything else I could be doing...If you have enough time to meal plan, you don’t have enough to do.” Perpetually in motion, an exhausted Bethany has a moment of frustration and takes a breath before heading out to deliver hay for her families business.
Bethany’s son Cody wonders down from his aunt’s home to see his mom as she loads hay from the trailer into the barn to be stored until it is sold. Cody and his sister Cole often have the freedom to wonder back and forth from house to house as their aunt, great aunt and grandparents all live within a mile of Bethany’s house, on a quiet back road in Maine.
When not on duty for the Maine State Police, or taking care of her children as a recently divorced mother, Bethany helps out with her family’s farm. Living within a mile of the farm, her and her siblings have always been expected to take part in the family business. Loading and or delivering hay on her day off, or in-between shifts is not uncommon for Bethany, especially during the busy season.
Bethany comforts her daughter, Cole, in the kitchen of her cousin’s camp, after a long day, and a cookout with family and friends. Cole is tired and upset that they haven’t gone for the long promised boat ride yet.
Patrolling the same community you live in is a mix of good and bad. For Bethany, one of the perks is the opportunity to stop by and chat with her sister and sister’s newborn baby, while on duty. The two gossip about family and friends and exchange funny texts.
Bethany and another officer exchange jokes and small talk on a meet up while on shift together to keep it light when the day can get stressful. Often reserved, Bethany is even toned and unemotional when talking with the public she serves in highly emotionally charged situations. “You have to” she says. “You have to remain unemotional, detach yourself from the horrible things you see every day…You have to find a balance, a balance between work and home, or it’s gonna kill you young.”
A quiet sunset moment shared between Bethany and her mother on the lake.