Josh Cramer officially appointed as the new police chief of Bradenton.

Key Information

• Event: Swearing-in ceremony for new police chief
• Date: Tuesday morning (exact date unspecified)
• Location: Historic Courthouse in Manatee County
• Former Chief: Melanie Bevan
• New Chief: Josh Cramer
• Career Start: 1995 with Bradenton Police Department
• Previous Role: Number two position in the department for six years
• City Council: Represented Ward 3 during nomination
• Support: Bevan to assist during transition
• Future Goals: Advancing technology and opening new headquarters

On Tuesday morning, Josh Cramer was sworn in as the new chief of the Bradenton Police Department at the Historic Courthouse in Manatee County. Mayor Gene Brown officiated the ceremony.

Former Chief Melanie Bevan expressed her pride in Cramer, stating, “I’m so confident that Josh Cramer is going to take the department to new heights.”

Though Cramer is stepping into a new role, he is a familiar face within the department, having begun his career in law enforcement with BPD in 1995. Over the last three decades, he has established his presence in the Bradenton community, advancing through the ranks to hold the position of second-in-command for six years prior to his retirement.

At the time of his nomination, Cramer was serving his first term on the Bradenton City Council, representing Ward 3. He was selected to succeed Bevan after she announced her retirement in January. Bevan, who became chief in 2016 after a 29-year tenure with the St. Petersburg Police Department, sees great potential in Cramer’s leadership.

In an interview with ABC7, Bevan indicated that Cramer’s leadership will transition the department into a new era, emphasizing advancements in technology in policing and the anticipated opening of a new state-of-the-art headquarters next year.

Upon assuming his role, Cramer expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I’m really very happy to be able to lead us.” Bevan plans to assist Cramer as he adapts to his new responsibilities over the forthcoming weeks.