Councilman Cramer to Succeed Bevan as BPD Chief

BRADENTON — Ward 3 Bradenton City Councilman Josh Cramer has been selected as the next Chief of the Bradenton Police Department. He is scheduled to be sworn in as police chief on July 8, creating a vacancy on the council. Remaining council members will then vote on an appointment to fill the Ward 3 seat.

Cramer served in the Bradenton Police Department from 1995 until his retirement in 2022, ultimately rising to the position of assistant chief in 2016. After retiring, he was elected to the city council later that same year. Cramer has since continued to serve as a reserve officer, bringing his total service with the BPD to 30 years.

Cramer graduated from Florida State University with a degree in criminology, later adding executive leadership training through the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to his credentials. Mayor Gene Brown nominated Cramer to succeed Police Chief Melanie Bevan. Bevan announced in January that she would be retiring after nine years as chief.