Safety Patrol members to be honored with police badges

A badge is more than a shiny emblem. It’s a source of pride.

At least that’s how Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan sees it.

Bevan told the children of Ballard Elementary School that she was at a Safety Patrol conference last year, but something was off, she said.

“I couldn’t help but notice there was something missing on that belt. Now, you probably don’t even realize this, because you’ve never known anything different, but I’ve been wearing a badge on my chest for about 31 years now,” Bevan said.

She told students that she was a member of the Safety Patrol when she was in the fourth grade. She cherished her badge and said it might have been the reason she turned out to be an officer.

She decided that it was time to honor the students with their very own badge when Bradenton school principals told her that they choose exemplary role models to join the Safety Patrol.

“I’m here to reinforce that by honoring you with a Bradenton Police Department Safety Patrol badge,” Bevan told the kids. “It’s an honor because we don’t let just anybody wear our badge.”

Bevan urged the students to make sure the badge meant something and to be the kind of person that other students will look up to. Since the kids are already exhibiting the qualities that the Bradenton Police Department looks for in new recruits, she encouraged students to seek her out in a few years if they want to join her police force.

“Call me if you want to trade one of these in for one of these,” said Bevan, gesturing to her own badge as she passed out Safety Patrol badges to the students.

BPD will continue to hand out Safety Patrol badges to every Bradenton school over the next few weeks.

This story was originally published November 2, 2017 at 4:51 PM with the headline "Safety Patrol members to be honored with police badges."