Four Bradenton Police Officers to be Promoted

BRADENTON -- Chief of Police Michael Radzilowski is pleased to announce that four highly dedicated and qualified members of the City of Bradenton Police Department will be promoted through the ranks.

Capt. Warren T. Merriman III will be promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police for the City of Bradenton Police Department.

Deputy Chief Merriman began his career with the Bradenton Police Department in December of 1996 as a Patrol Officer. He was promoted to Patrol Corporal in July of 2000, and shortly thereafter to Patrol Sergeant in December of 2001. In May of 2007, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and named the Director of the Office of Professional Standards, where he served until being promoted in May of 2011 to the rank of Captain over the Patrol Support Division.

Deputy Chief Merriman is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Deputy Chief Merriman has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice from the State College of Florida, and is currently attending St. Leo University to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. He is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy 245th Session, and the St. Leo University Command Officer Management Program (Session XIII).

Lt. William Fowler will be promoted to the rank of Captain, and will be in command of the Patrol Support Division.

Capt. Fowler began his career with the Bradenton Police Department in February of 1995 as a Patrol Officer. He was serving as a Narcotics Detective, when he was promoted to the rank of Patrol Corporal in September  of 1999, and shortly thereafter to Patrol Sergeant in December of 2000. In March of 2005, he was promoted to the rank of Patrol Lieutenant, and has served as a Zone Commander in the Patrol Operations Division, District 2.

Capt. Fowler is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He has been a long-term member of the City of Bradenton Police Department’s S.W.A.T Team, where he currently serves as a Team Sniper.

Detective Sgt. James Wilkinson will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and will serve as a Zone Commander in the Patrol Operations Division, District 1.

Lt. Wilkinson began his career with the Bradenton Police Department in November of 1995 as a Patrol Officer. Lt. Wilkinson has served as a Detective in the Narcotics Unit, F.B.I. Violent Crimes Task Force, and Detective Division. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in July of 2004, and has both served as a supervisor in the Patrol Operations Division, and most recently the Detective Division.  

Lt. Wilkinson is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Lieutenant Wilkinson has been a long-term member of the City of Bradenton Police Department’s S.W.A.T Team, and currently serves as the S.W.A.T. Team Commander.

Master Patrol Officer David Sullivan will be promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and will serve as a Zone Supervisor in the Patrol Operations Division, District 1.

Sgt. Sullivan began his career with the Bradenton Police Department in Sept. 2002 as a Patrol Officer. He is currently assigned to the Traffic Unit, where he is qualified as an advanced Traffic Homicide Investigator and Traffic Crash Reconstructionist. Sgt. Sullivan also serves as a Field Training Officer.

The promotions will be effective May 26, 2013.