Chief's Corner: Melanie Bevan, BPD

The grand opening of a state-of-the-art training center for the Bradenton Police Department and Manatee Technical College Law Enforcement Academy is February 25. Thanks to seamless collaboration between BPD, MTC, and the School District of Manatee County, the new facility ensures BPD can expand and upscale officer training programs to meet the needs of our growing department.

MTC will also benefit from new tools to prepare law enforcement academy students for future careers. The center is poised to become a premiere regional training facility, serving law enforcement agencies with top-
tier resources and programs.

The facility is located on 70 acres in eastern Manatee County and includes the following:

• 25-yard pistol firing range] 100-yard rifle range 300x600-foot driving pad
• Simulated shoot house
• Classroom building with offices, restrooms, and storage
• Firearms cleaning station
• Observation towers and covered bleacher seating