Bradenton Police Department
The Bradenton Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the City of Bradenton, Florida.[1] The current Police Chief is Melanie Bevan, Ed.D. The Bradenton Police Department works in conjunction with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.[2]
| Bradenton Police Department | |
|---|---|
 Patch of the BPD. | |
| 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 | |
History
The Bradenton Police Department first formed in 1903 with W.S. Young being its first police chief staying in that position until serving in World War I in 1918. Clyde Benton, a motorcycle officer that was hired in 1926 became the police chief in 1932. During his time as the chief, he notably added police radios to their patrol cars along with training its officers in criminal investigation and fingerprinting being the first police department in Florida to do so. Under his tenure the department lost its first known officer, Steve R. Bennett in a car accident in February 1934.[3] During World War II, the police department was reduced to 2/3 active police officers. Benton served as the police chief until retiring in 1955. Mack Brick, one of the original 32 members of the Florida Highway Patrol succeeded him serving until 1960 when he retired.
His most notable action as police chief was moving the police department to its present-day location. Mack G. Britt, his successor, also served for five years. He introduced civil service tests for newly hired employees and polygraphs for interrogations. During Brit's time as chief the department lost a second officer, Patrolman Carl W. Cox after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle in Downtown Bradenton.[4] After the departure of Chief Brit in 1971, Clyde Gill took over the department. A SWAT Team was established during his tenure. The police department continued to expand, adding new specialized divisions during the late 1970s and 1980s. Another development occurring in the 1980s was the adoption of the department's present-day patch in 1989.[5]
Line of duty deaths
The Bradenton Police Department has lost two known officers according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.[6]
| Rank | Name | Date of Death | Cause of Death | Age | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police Officer | Steve R. Bennett | 02-05-1934 | Succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day after being involved in a crash while in his patrol car after a vehicle struck him in an intersection | 53 | Intersection of 8th Avenue W (U.S. Route 41) and 14th Street W (Tamiami Trail) in Bradenton, Florida |
| Patrolman | Carl W. Cox | 08-08-1970 | Struck and killed by a vehicle while on his police bicycle | 59 | In downtown Bradenton, Florida |
References
- http://www.cityofbradenton.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B47914AD0-45F1-4E9B-AAFF-62782D7E37E0%7D
- http://www.manateesheriff.com/
- "Policeman Steve R. Bennett". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2016-12-28.
- "Patrolman Carl W. Cox". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2016-12-28.
- "Welcome to Bradenton Police Department, FL". www.bradentonpd.com. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- "Bradenton Police Department, FL". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2020-07-20.