Bradenton councilman named next police chief. Who picks his replacement?
Bradenton’s incoming police chief will soon leave an open seat on the City Council, raising questions about how the vacancy will be filled.
Councilman Josh Cramer, who represents Ward 3, is set to take over as police chief in July after the Bradenton City Council approved his nomination Wednesday. Cramer must resign from the council before he is sworn in, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
Once that happens, the remaining council members will appoint someone to fill the vacancy and serve through the end of Cramer’s term in November 2026, according to city officials and the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections.
City spokesperson Tiffany Shadik said in an email that “the Council may appoint someone from Ward 3 to fulfill the remainder of his term.”
Supervisor of Elections Scott Farrington pointed to Section 9 of the city charter, confirming that vacancies are filled by appointment unless caused by a recall election. He said the city council has the authority to select an eligible person under those rules.
Cramer joined the Bradenton Police Department in 1995 and rose through the ranks over the years, serving as sergeant, lieutenant, captain and eventually assistant chief from 2016 until his retirement in 2022. Later that year, voters elected him to represent Ward 3 on the City Council. He has continued to serve as a reserve officer, giving him 30 years of experience with the agency, according to BPD.
A graduate of Florida State University with a degree in criminology, Cramer also completed executive leadership training through the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to the department.
Mayor Gene Brown nominated Cramer to succeed Police Chief Melanie Bevan, who announced her retirement in January after nine years leading the agency.
Cramer is scheduled to be sworn in as police chief at 9 a.m. on July 8 at the Historic Courthouse, 1111 Sixth Ave. W., Bradenton.
