By Paula Tracy
Union Leader
CAMPTON, N.H. — Betsy Bolan, a Campton police officer and mom in this tiny town in the foothills of the White Mountains is among 20 contestants on CBS’s “Survivor " Samoa,” this season, the network announced yesterday.
The 48-year-old traded patrols and carpools for tribal councils and tree mail this spring and summer on Samoa, joining a rocket scientist, a lesbian marine sergeant, an EPA lawyer and an urban planner in a battle to see who is the fittest of the species.
Around Campton, Bolan’s presence on the show is the worst-kept secret, and she’s about to become the biggest celebrity in town.
“I am ecstatic,” said Kristy Tobine, a firefighter/EMT for Campton-Thornton Fire Department, yesterday as she sat on the bumper of a fire truck, talking about her friend Bolan and the upcoming season of the show, which begins Thursday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m.
Tobine said Bolan missed her children terribly and was not able to have contact with them or her husband during taping this summer.
As required by the show, Bolin has been tight-lipped about how she fared, Tobine said.
The popular show brings together a group of “castaways” who try to outwit, outplay and outlast each other for the title of being the sole survivor, according to CBS.
The petite cop with a penchant for watching the show was given a leave of absence in March by Campton selectman to participate in the show.
“I think she did really well because she is athletic, an investigator with an inquisitive mind and also a mom,” Tobine said.
Each episode, members are voted off the island.
Others in town also are enjoying her fame.
At Handyman Hardware, just about everyone, even Sumo the cat, seemed to know Bolan.
Some in town joked about now being pulled over by the biggest celebrity, and most were excited about the prospects of watching their local cop on “Survivor”.
Josh Simmons, of Campton, agreed with Tobine that Bolan likely did well.
“She’s not some girly girl,” he said, noting she is back on the beat in town and has not been offering much information about her experience.
Heather Donahue of Thornton said it will be exciting for the community to have Bolan on the show.
Bolan did not return telephone calls yesterday for comment, but according to her biography on the CBS’ Web site, posted yesterday, “Bolan dreamed of being a cop her entire life and at age 47 finally turned that dream into a reality.
Her friends and family still cannot believe this mother of four is an officer of the law. Even though she is nicknamed ‘Officer Friendly,’ Betsy isn’t naive and knows that ‘nice people can be snakes.’”
According to the Web site, Bolan has two boys and two girls ranging in age from 8 to 16.
Bolan’s husband, Chris, is president of the Waterville Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Tobine said she can’t wait to go over to see her newly returned friend and see some of the items she brought back from her experience, but she said knows she will have to wait like everyone else to see how the season plays out.
Tobine said is traveling to Concord where an EMT refresher course is held on a night that won’t interfere with viewing “Survivor.”
“I’ll be watching,” she assured. That is unless the pager goes off.
Copyright 2009 Union Leader