Career BPD officer Josh Cramer named next Chief of Police

May 28

May 28, 2025

Retired Bradenton Police Department Assistant Chief Josh Cramer will lead the agency following Chief Melanie Bevan's retirement this summer.

Last week, Mayor Gene Brown nominated Cramer, who has served on the Bradenton City Council since 2023, following a months-long search for a new chief. City Council confirmed the choice this morning.

Cramer will assume this leadership position from Chief Melanie Bevan, who announced her retirement in January.

Chief Cramer's 30-year law enforcement career has been in service to the Bradenton Police Department. He retired as Assistant Chief in 2022 but remains a reserve officer.

Cramer joined BPD in 1995 after earning a B.S. in Criminology from Florida State University (1994) and graduating from the Lively Law Enforcement Academy in Tallahassee (1994).

He spent eight years as a patrol officer before rising through the ranks to Sergeant (2003), Lieutenant (2011), Captain (2015), and Assistant Chief of Police (2016-2022).

Throughout his tenure with the Bradenton Police Department, Chief Cramer received several prestigious awards, including BPD's Officer of the Year Award (2007), Commendation Bar (2010), and 16th Congressional District Law Enforcement Gary Tibbitts Career Service Award (2022). In addition to extensive ongoing law enforcement training, Chief Cramer attended the FBI Florida Executive Development Seminar in 2015 and the FDLE Chief Executive Seminar in 2016.

Chief Cramer's swearing-in ceremony will take place on July 8th.

Bradenton Police Department Experience

2019-2022: Assistant Chief of Police – Administrative Services Division

2016-2019: Assistant Chief of Police – Patrol Operations

2015-2016: Captain – Office of the Chief

2014-2015: Lieutenant – Office of Professional Standards

2011-2013: Lieutenant – Patrol Division (Zone Four)

Detail Commander, BPD Mutual Aid Team, 2012 Republican National Convention, Tampa

2003-2011: Sergeant – Patrol Division (Zone Four)

Field Training and Evaluation Program Supervisor (2005-2011)

Special Event Operations Coordinator (2007-2011)

Mutual Aid Coordinator (2007-2022)

2000-2003: Patrol Officer – Corporal

1995-2000: Patrol Officer

Field Training Officer (1998-2000)

Honors

16th Congressional District Law Enforcement Awards – Gary Tibbitts Career Service Award (2022)

BPD Commendation Bar (2010)

Bradenton Fire Department Lifesaving Award (2007)

Bradenton Police Department Officer of the Year (2007)

Education

B.S., Criminology, Florida State University (1994)

Lively Law Enforcement Academy, Tallahassee (1994)

FBI Florida Executive Development Seminar (2015)

FDLE Chief Executive Seminar (2016)

Various law enforcement training, including Field Training Officer, Supervisory Techniques, Injury and Death Investigation, In-Depth Supervision (including advanced training), Basic Public Information Officer

Volunteer Service

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast