Independent review clears Bradenton police chief of wrongdoing, mayor says
An investigation has cleared Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan of the accusations of criminal wrongdoing alleged by a former officer.
The independent investigation, announced by Mayor Gene Brown last month, stemmed from a complaint submitted by Officer Hannah Kalchbrenner, who accused Bevan of conducting an illegal search on July 14.
After reviewing body camera footage and other key evidence, a retired judge determined Bevan did not break the law.
“Based upon my review of Chief Bevan’s actions … I conclude that absolutely no Fourth Amendment concerns or violations were implicated by these actions,” wrote Judge Gregory Holder, who was asked by the mayor to conduct an independent review of the complaint.
Kalchbrenner, who spent six years with the Bradenton Police Department, said she witnessed Bevan conduct a warrantless search of a home and an individual during a service call on July 14. Her accusations were backed by the Southwest Florida Police Benevolent Association, which filed an unfair labor practice charge against the department.
In a statement provided to the Bradenton Herald on Monday afternoon, Brown said the investigation exonerates Bevan and doubled down on his support of the 36-year law enforcement veteran.
“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,” Brown wrote.
What happened during the search?
According to Holder, witness testimony and camera footage from the July 14 service call make it clear that Bevan followed the proper procedures.
On July 14, a correctional probation officer called 911 for help serving a warrant. After BPD officers, including Kalchbrenner and Bevan, arrived on the scene, two people were temporarily detained outside of a house in the 900 block of 21st Ave. W., Bradenton.
In a legal opinion, Holder wrote that Bevan was within her right to conduct a “very quick” pat-down search after observing a “cylindrical object” that could have been the barrel of a weapon. Bevan’s decision “does not constitute a search or seizure,” Holder wrote.
Holder also dismissed Kalchbrenner’s claim that Bevan had illegally searched the house, noting that Bevan received permission from the tenant to enter the house and only made note of suspected illegal substances that were in plain sight. According to the Holder, Bevan conducted a “cursory sweep” in the house for less than 90 seconds.
“Having reviewed the extensive body cam footage, there can be no reasonable disagreement as to what we can plainly see in the way of the actions of Chief Bevan and the other BPD officers involved in this operation,” Holder wrote.
Earlier this year, the police union became a point of contention for Bradenton officials after the organization conducted an anonymous survey of the department’s 102 sworn officers. More than half of the officers responded to the survey by sharing concerns about the department’s leadership, morale among staff and complaints of low salaries.
“Of those that did choose to take the time and respond to the various questions that were posed to them, it is an alarming percentage that is dissatisfied with the conditions that exist at the agency,” Southwest Florida PBA President Mick McHale said at the time.
Following Kalchbrenner’s written complaint about the incident on July 14, Bevan issued a rare statement denying any wrongdoing and accusing the police union of working to tarnish her reputation.
“...I am utterly dismayed and disappointed by the actions of Mr. McHale and the Southwest Florida PBA in their continued attacks against my character, my ethics, and the integrity of the Bradenton Police Department,” Bevan’s statement said.
Bevan previously served decades with the St. Petersburg Police Department before joining Bradenton’s police department as chief in 2016.
This story was originally published September 12, 2022 at 5:00 PM.
