Police Chief Cleared Of Illegal Home Search Claims: Bradenton Mayor

BRADENTON, FL — After being accused of conducting an illegal search of a resident’s home, among other claims, Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan is “exonerated of all allegations against her,” according to the city’s mayor, Gene Brown.

In an Aug. 8 letter to Brown, Mick McHale, the Southwest Florida PBA president, spoke of a complaint filed by a Bradenton Police Department officer alleging that during a July 14 call, Bevan “reached her hand inside of the pocket of a bystander on scene without any warrant or warning.”

She felt something in their pocket and instructed an officer to find out what it was, according to the complaint. The item wasn’t a weapon, the union president added.

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“After conducting a warrantless search of the bystander,” Bevan entered the home and began searching it, McHale wrote. “She wore black gloves and began looking around the home and moving things inside the home as part of her warrantless search. Other Bradenton police officers on scene were in shock and were left speechless as they watched Chief Bevan conduct an unlawful search of the home.”

After this complaint, another four officers came forward in August with additional allegations against the chief, which included harassment and phone seizure.

Brown recommended that Captain Brian Gregory from the North Port Police Department and retired Judge Greg Holder conduct the investigations, with Holder focusing on Bevan. Florida law requires any law enforcement officer accused of misconduct, other than police chief, be investigated by a law enforcement agency, so Gregory focused on accusations involving any sworn officers other than the chief, including an internal affairs investigator.

But Holder cleared the chief of all allegations in his legal review, which was submitted Sunday to the city. After considering her “momentary detention” of two people leaving the home and the pat-down of a man outside the home, he determined “that absolutely no Fourth Amendment concerns or violations were implicated by these actions.” (Read his full legal review below.)

He added, “Under these facts, supported by competent and substantial evidence, there simply was no search or seizure of either the persons or property on July 14, 2022. Perhaps more importantly, Chief Bevan’s actions were not only consistent with both the statutory and constitutional parameters but were also consistent with defined police procedures not only within BPD, but also within law enforcement agencies throughout this nation. Her actions that day were taken to ensure the safety of all involved, both officers and citizens.”

In a statement, Brown said, “Chief Bevan’s 36 years of law enforcement experience are very evident when the complete investigation is reviewed along with the analysis by retired Judge (Gregory) Holder. Chief Bevan has been and will continue to be an outstanding asset to the city of Bradenton, and she is supported by the city council and myself.”

Read Holder's full legal review of complaints filed against Chief Bevan: