Bradenton Police Department

Bradenton Police Department
Patch of the Bradenton Police Department
Agency overview
Formed	1903
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	United States
Legal jurisdiction	Municipal
Operational structure
Officers	123
Civilians	70
Facilities
Police Stations	1 Primary
Website
bradentonpd.com

Headquarters

The Bradenton Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the City of Bradenton, Florida.^[1] The Department is currently authorized for 123 full-time sworn officers, 2 part-time sworn School Resource Officers, and 70 civilian support employees. The current Police Chief is Melanie Bevan, Ed.D, who has served the Department since February, 2016.

History[]

20th Century[]

The City of Bradenton Police Department was formed in 1903 when Mr. W.S. Young doubled as the City Fire Marshall and Sanitation Inspector for the salary of $60 per month. He remained chief until 1918 when he left to serve in World War I.^[2]

Chief Clyde Benton began his career at the department as a motorcycle officer in 1926. He was sworn in as chief a few years later in 1932. As his time as chief he focus on reducing car accidents along with crime. He would also work to modernize the police department training it's officers in fingerprinting and crime detection along with creating a radio system for communication. It would be one of the first police departments in Florida to do all of the three. Benton also believed in increasing the visibility of the department at schools, directing traffic and participating in school programs and large social gatherings. Additionally, he created a program that allowed any citizen to be escorted to the polls who felt intimidated during elections and it was credited with improving relations between the department and African-Americans. During World War II, the BPD would be decreased to 2/3 officers working six and seven days a week. Chief Benton would retire in 1955.^[2]

Chief Mack Britt would take over the department in 1955. Britt was chief of the County Patrol in 1936 as chief of the County Patrol, a forerunner to the Florida Highway Patrol. When the Florida Highway Patrol was created in 1939, Britt was one of the original 31 officers in the unit. He would convince the state government to train it's troopers in Bradenton. Britt remained with the FHP until 1955, moving up the ranks of it as time went on. He would serve as Bradenton Police chief until 1960.It was also at this time that the police department moved to a brand new headquarters off of the Manatee River, complete with a reception center and lobby, dispatch center, and municipal court room. Under the recommendation of Chief Clyde Gill, the Bradenton Police headquarters was named the Mack G. Britt Building in honor of Chief Britt.^[2]

Upon retiring, Chief Britt would test the four lieutenants under his command and chose Harry Wilkinson in the end. Wilkinson was formerly served with the US Coast Guard from 1933 to 1948 and joined the BPD in 1951 as a patrolman. While serving as Chief, he established civil service tests for all employees, created a new detective division, and procured the department's first polygraph machine.^[2]

During the 1970s the police department would continue to expand. A 5 member SWAT team would be formed in December 1976. The department's first female officer, Valerie Ester would hired in 1978. The 1980s would see the creation of a Narcotics unit, K-9, School resource officers and marine units. At some point Charlie Wells would serve as thChief Vito "Vic" Badalamenti would become the Chief in 1985 and serve until retiring in 1995.^[2]

Chief Charlie Wells joined the Bradenton Police Department and stayed with Bradenton until he was elected Sheriff of Manatee County in 1985. During his time as Chief, the Department established official Narcotics, K-9, School Resource Officer, and Marine units in an effort to better serve the residents of Bradenton. He was succeeded by Chief Vito "Vic" Badalamenti. An Air Force veteran who retired as a New York State Trooper, Chief Badalementi joined the Department in 1980 as its Parking Supervisor before being named Chief of Police in 1985, retiring in 1995. After Badalementi's retirement Daniel Thorpe, a 20+ year officer in the department would resume his duties.^[2]

Albert Hogle served briefly as Chief, following a 28 year career as a narcotics officer with the Sarasota Police Department, where he eventually served as Commissioner and Mayor of the City of Sarasota. Following his brief tenure in Bradenton, Chief Hogle served as the Chief of the Longboat Key Police Department. While at BPD, Chief Hogle initiated the Safe Streets program, revamped the Narcotics Unit, and created an oversight team to manage hiring and ethics issues.^[2]

21st Century[]

Chief Michael “Razz” Radzilowski became the police chief in 2002 and served for 13 years despite planning on running the department for 2 or 3 years and retiring. He started his career as an officer for the Washington DC Police Department in 1970 and moved through the ranks before becoming Bradenton's police chief. During his tenure as the chief, he would focus on a community policing philosophy in order to foster a positive relationship with residents and officers and was credited with dropping the crime rate by 69 percent. Melanie Bevan would become the police chief in February 2016 and is still currently serving.^[2]

Line of duty deaths[]

The Bradenton Police Department has lost two known officers according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.^[3]

References[]

External links[]

• Official Website