BRADENTON, Fla. — Tensions have been mounting on the Bradenton Police Department, and now the Bradenton mayor is asking for the chief to be investigated after a number of new complaints have been filed by officers.
Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan is beneath hearth after an officer lately filed a grievance against the chief for an illegal search of a house.
Since then, Florida Police Benevolent Association legal professional Stephanie Webster mentioned many officers have come ahead with accusations of potential legal conduct and bullying by the Chief.
“I’ve been working at the PBA for 12 years and I’ve heard some crazy stuff, but this stuff, this is the craziest,” mentioned Webster.
Sworn statements by officers allege Bevan urged officers use intimidation and legal strategies to get information from a suspect together with “ramming a patrol car” into their automobile. Officers additionally mentioned they had been interrogated and felt terrified to come back to work.
The affidavits allege the Chief would retaliate against workers who went against her strategies by altering shifts and utilizing different bullying techniques.
“I just can’t tell you how many officers I’ve interviewed at this point who have said, we’ve had to go get mental health counseling,” mentioned Webster.
According to the Bradenton Police Department’s web site, they’ve 123 officers and 70 workers.
But new paperwork revealed that because the begin of 2020, 88 folks have left the BPD. 68 of them resigned,16 retired, 3 terminated, and 1 deceased.
“A lot of the former employees are coming forward and saying this is why I left, this is what happened to me. This is the bully, the intimidation, and the threatening tactics that took place,” mentioned Webster.
After the PBA formally filed a grievance against Chief Bevan, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown, who had resisted the police union’s requires an investigation for months, lastly really helpful an investigation but in addition acknowledged that the allegations “are not well supported with direct statements or action by the chief,” and, “I see no need to relieve Chief Bevan of her duties during this investigation.”
The mayor, the chief, and the town of Bradenton mentioned they plan no additional remark till the investigation is resolved.
In the meantime, the PBA mentioned they’ll combat for the officers and proceed to shine a lightweight on the complaints coming ahead.
“They shouldn’t be afraid to go to work every day and they shouldn’t be more afraid of their boss than they are of criminals,” mentioned Webster.