Staff Report
BRADENTON — Ward 3 Bradenton City Councilman Josh Cramer has been appointed as the Chief of the Bradenton Police Department. His swearing-in ceremony is set for July 8, which will leave a vacancy in the council. The remaining council members will have the responsibility to appoint someone to fill the vacant Ward 3 seat.
Cramer has a distinguished history with the Bradenton Police Department, serving from 1995 until his retirement in 2022. He advanced to the role of assistant chief in 2016 and has also engaged as a reserve officer post-retirement, amassing a total of 30 years dedicated service to the department.
He holds a degree in criminology from Florida State University and has undergone executive leadership training through both the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Mayor Gene Brown has nominated Cramer to take over from Police Chief Melanie Bevan, who announced her retirement in January after nine years in the role.
Key Information
- New Chief: Josh Cramer
- Swearing-In Date: July 8
- Previous Role: Ward 3 City Councilman
- Years of Service: 30 years with the Bradenton Police Department
- Academic Background: Degree in criminology from Florida State University
- Nomination by: Mayor Gene Brown
- Predecessor: Melanie Bevan
Article original publish date: 2025-05-31 07:00:00
Article source: thebradentontimes.com
Read the full story at the original source: thebradentontimes.com
