Police Sergeant Dies After Battling Cancer: Bradenton Police

BRADENTON, FL — A Bradenton police sergeant died Sunday after “a hard-fought battle” with metastatic kidney cancer, according to a Bradenton Police Department news release.

Sgt. Lee Cosens, 39, was surrounded by family and friends when he died just one day shy of his 40th birthday, the agency said.

A GoFundMe fundraiser is raising money to help his family with medical, funeral and everyday expenses. A portion will also be used to create an eternal reef in his memory. As of Tuesday morning, around $18,000 of the $25,000 goal has been met.

Cosens was with the department for more than 10 years, first as a patrol officer and later, as a detective. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2021.

He also served on several specialty units, including the Hostage Negotiation Team, the State Emergency Response Team and the Marine Unit.

Before Cosen’s time with the Bradenton Police Department, he served in the U.S. Army with the 293rd Military Police Company from 2007 to 2012, including a tour in Kandahar, Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010.

Outside of work, he loved traveling, spending time with his family, University of Michigan football and being on the water, according to the GoFundMe page for his family.

Cosens is survived by his wife, Amy, and two daughters, who are 6 and 7 years old.