‘He was just a great leader.’ Former Bradenton police chief Michael Radzilowski dies
Former Bradenton Chief of Police Michael Radzilowski, who led the department for 14 years before retiring in 2016, died from cancer on Sunday. He was 70.
Chief Radzilowski took over the department in 2002, a second chapter to his career in law enforcement. His career, which spanned more than 45 years, began in 1970 when he joined the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C.
Chief Razz, as he was commonly known in the department and by many in the city, introduced community policing to the department shortly after his arrival, and the city saw a major reduction of crime during his tenure.
The Bradenton Police Department announced his death on social media on Sunday evening.
“It is with a heavy heart we announce that Retired Chief of Police Michael Radzilowski passed away this morning after a battle with cancer. Chief Radzilowski, or “Chief Razz” as he was commonly known, faithfully served Bradenton PD from 2002 until 2016. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this time.”
The department is wearing their memorial badges in his honor.
Chief Radzilowski announced his retirement in 2015 during roll-call just before the annual DeSoto Heritage Festival Parade. While excited and looking forward to spending time with his family and restoring his classic cars, Chief Radzilowski lamented at the love he had for the officers in his command.
““These decisions over the last 45 years have really taken their toll on me because I worry about each and every one of you and I worry about your families,” Chief Radzilowski told them. “When my phone rings late at night at home, believe it or not, I worry, because I think, ‘Is it some police officer that got hurt or, God forbid, killed?’”
Chief Radzilowski was known as a tough leader by those who served under his command, but he was respected especially for the changes he brought to the department.
“He wasn’t afraid to speak the truth. He wasn’t a politician chief,” said retired Lt. James Racky. “He said what you needed to hear. Good or bad, it was what you needed it to be. That’s why I respected him.”
He recalled Chief Radzilowski being tough and strict from day one, but he also remembered the times he would not hesitate to put his arm around them, offering some fatherly advice.
“He would be the first to chew you out if you did something bad but at the same time would be the first to congratulate you when you did something good,” Racky said.
Chief Radzilowski was a mentor for many of the commanding officers who worked under him, like retired Capt. William Fowler.
“I enjoyed working with him. He taught me a lot about being a police officer and how to lead officers. He was just a great leader,” Fowler said. “It’s such a great loss to the law enforcement community.”
The former chief was also known for being very family-oriented. Fowler recalled how he would regularly ask him about his own family, even during their casual run-in’s after they both retired.
Retired detective Kevin Bunch remembered how Chief Radzilowski showed similar kindness to his wife when he suffered a head injury during a 2007 shooting.
“As much as he seemed kind of rough, he was compassionate,” Bunch said.
He was known for always telling officers, just to “be professional and use common sense.”
At the time Chief Radzilowski was hired, the department had gone through several police chiefs. Radzilowski brought with him the experience of command officers in a large department.
“We were excited to get someone with that kind of experience.,” Bunch said. “ He was a cop’s cop. He was always fair and professional. .... He brought a level of professionalism to the department that was needed.”
Current Chief of Police Melanie Bevan didn’t know Chief Radzilowski well, but knew he was well liked by officers now under her command.
“He made a mark,” Bevan said. “I think everything I have done since I have been here is building on the groundwork he laid down.”
Chief Radzilowski ran the deparment for more than double the average tenure of a police chief, she added.
“I don’t think it was by accident. I think he consistently did what he needed to do to move the department forward,” she added.
One story that she’s heard repeated over the years stuck out to Bevan. Officers told her about a time during the department’s annual Honor the Badge event, which Chief Radzilowski began, where they were short in donations for the officers to take local children Christmas shopping, so he took out his own credit card and had them charge $1,000 to it.
“He didn’t just talk the talk,” Bevan said.
This story was originally published November 1, 2020 at 8:19 PM.
