Lightning Pride Strikes Bradenton Police Department

BRADENTON, FL — The Bradenton Police Department is showing its Lightning pride as the Bolts continue the journey to claim the NHL’s Eastern Conference Championship title for the second year running.

While officers on the street can’t don their Tampa Bay Lighting T-shirts or put on a Bishop jersey to root for his return to the ice, others from the agency can. Chief Melanie Bevan has given a green light for all non-uniformed department employees to wear their Lightning gear to work on days the Bolts play at home.

The announcement must have been met with a round of applause at police headquarters. A photo shared by the agency on its Facebook page Friday shows more than a few employees wearing jerseys and T-shirts in honor of the team.

Heading into Friday’s match, the Pittsburgh Penguins led the seven game series 2-1. Play continues at 8 p.m. in Tampa for the fourth game of the series before action returns to Pittsburg on Sunday at 8 p.m.

The Bradenton Police Department’s decision to show its Lightning pride comes on the heels of a bit of a kerfuffle in the community. Over the weekend, it was learned that the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau had spent about $6,000 on rally towels that said, “Let’s Go Pens.”

The towel purchase sparked outrage among Bolts’ fans who started the #BoycottBradenton movement on social media. While Bradenton and Pittsburgh, no doubt, have close ties thanks to the McKechnie Field being the Pirates’ spring training home, some fans were not quick to forgive.

Mayoral candidate Warren Merriman got a Lightning logo tattooed on his back earlier this week in hopes of wooing Bolts’ fans back to Bradenton.

Photo courtesy of the Bradenton Police Department

Sign up for the Bradenton Patch newsletter and alerts!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, too!