Bradenton Chief of Police Accused of Misconduct

BRADENTON – An officer with the Bradenton Police Department has accused Bradenton's Chief of Police Melanie Bevan of conducting an illegal search. The union representing the department’s officers has filed a complaint with Mayor Gene Brown requesting the mayor retain an unbiased and neutral investigatory body to review the actions of Chief Bevan.

On August 8, Stephanie Dobson Webster, General Counsel for the Southwest Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA), delivered the complaint letter written by union President Mick McHale to Mayor Brown by email. The letter detailed various issues of concern relating to a July 14 incident involving Chief Bevan.

The complaint described an incident on July 14, 2022, where Bradenton Police Officers were assisting probation officers with the Florida Department of Corrections with an arrest warrant. Several BPD officers responded to a residence in the 900 block of 21st Avenue West in Bradenton. Chief Bevan–who was participating in a ride along with an officer in training–also arrived on the scene.

The complaining officer alleges having witnessed Chief Bevan reaching inside the pocket of a bystander outside the home "without any warrant or warning." After having searched the bystander’s pocket, the complainant alleged that Bevan then proceeded to enter the home and began conducting a search of the residence–again without a warrant. When the homeowner asked Chief Bevan to vacate the residence if there was not a warrant permitting the search, Bevan allegedly ignored the homeowner’s request. PBA President McHale categorized the search of the residence as "unlawful“ in the written complaint.

"Chief Bevan ignored the homeowner’s command that she leave her house, and falsely claimed that she was permitted to look around the residence given that a suspect was arrested in the home," the complaint detailed.

Patrol Officer Hannah Kalchbrenner, who filed the initial complaint, was on the scene during the July 14 incident. Feeling compelled to respond to what she witnessed, Kalchbrenner delivered a complaint to her direct supervisor and the department’s internal affairs unit.

According to McHale’s letter, "ÉOfficer Kalchbreener was ambushed by internal affairs investigations upon her return to work after filing the complaint, and she was thereafter interrogated and illegally detained."

Kalchbrenner said that while detained by internal affairs investigators she was refused an attorney or even use of the restroom. In addition, investigators ordered that Kalchbrenner surrender her personal cell phone for examination.

"The PBA is requesting that the city immediately begin an independent investigation into the unlawful behavior of Chief Melanie Bevan. An investigation by her own internal affairs division is highly prejudicial and inappropriate," wrote McHale. "The current investigation being conducted by Chief Bevan's Internal Affairs Department has already led to abusive and prejudicial interrogations of the witnesses," McHale added, stating that an investigation into the behavior of the internal affairs department should also be ordered.

According to McHale, the PBA was also informed by the homeowner whose home was searched by Bevan, that internal affairs officers had contacted them attempting to convince the homeowner that Bevan’s search of the home was lawful, "given that Bevan did not move objects within the home."

General counsel for PBA toldTBTby email that additional complaints are yet to be filed relating to the original complaint and how investigations into that complaint were handled.

"The PBA also intends to file an unfair labor practice complaint against the city for the treatment of our member during her interrogation into her complaint," wrote Webster. Such a complaint would be filed with the Public Employees Relations Commission.

Officer Kalchbrenner resigned from the police force following what she considered unfair treatment by internal affairs investigators looking into her complaint. Kalchbreener's husband, who was also an officer with the department, has also resigned. Resignation letters submitted by the Kalchbrenners identify several causes for their decisions–including the department’s response to Mrs. Kalchbrenner’s initial complaint and an existing "fear of retaliation." To read the former officers' resignation letters, click here.

The union has requested that Mayor Brown suspend Bevan pending the resolution of "an unbiased investigation of her behavior and the behavior of her internal affairs investigators conducting the 'investigation' into their own chief."

Bradenton's Mayor toldTBTby phone that he was unable to comment as investigations are confidential while active. Brown instead directed us to a reply he sent to PBA President McHale. The August 9 response by Brown acknowledged the complaints against both Chief Bevan and BPD's internal affairs division. Brown's response confirmed that both complaints are currently active administrative investigations: "Your letter will be brought to the attention of the investigators and will be made part of both investigative files."

TBT's initial requests for comment were declined by the Bradenton Police Department's PIO earlier in the week, with the PIO citing open and active investigations, but in a follow-up email on Thursday, BPD's PIO Meredith Frameli directedTBTto an open letter authored by Chief Bevan.

In her strongly worded letter, Bevan referred to complaints brought against her by PBA as "unfounded and completely unsubstantiated accusations." Bevan accused PBA President McHale of "encouraging" a union member to "publicly and falsely" accuse her of misconduct.

Bevan noted her 36 years of service with law enforcement and long-standing ties to respective communities and agencies, before stating her belief that PBA may be motivated by its own failures in representing its members. Bevan wrote that she was "utterly dismayed and disappointed" by what she called attacks against her character, ethics, and the overall integrity of the department she leads.

Bevan wrote that while state law prohibits her from discussing an active investigation, rendering her unable to respond directly to the "false allegations," she is confident the conclusion of the investigations will lead to her exoneration.

"This incident was captured by body-worn camera footage," Bevan wrote. "Consequently, I am confident when the investigation is complete, the evidence will speak for itself, and I will be fully exonerated of any assertion of conduct violations."

Reached by phone, PBA President McHale responded to Bevan’s open letter, tellingTBTthat PBA’s role is to respond to calls for services and/or representation by members that the association represents. McHale said PBA's complaint was formulated based upon the beliefs and observations of officers who were involved in the incident that was cited in the written complaint.

"Quite frankly," said McHale, "to represent that I have control over police officers at the agency to encourage them to make false accusations is laughable."

Click HERE to read Southwest Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA) complaint letter written by union President Mick McHale, dated August 8.

Click HERE to read Mayor Gene Brown's response to PBA's complaint against Chief Bevan, dated August 9.

Click HERE to read Bradenton's Chief of Police Melanie Bevan's open letter on the matter, dated August 11.

Dawn Kitterman is a staff reporter for The Bradenton Times. She covers local government and entertainment news. She can be reached at dawn.kitterman@thebradentontimes.com.