Bradenton police chief names two assistant chiefs

The Bradenton Police Department has named two new assistant police chiefs.

On Wednesday morning, Bradenton police Captain Joshua Cramer and St. Petersburg police Major Paul McWade were named the new assistant chiefs of police at the Bradenton Police Department.

Police Chief Melanie Bevan, who took over leadership of the department Feb. 16, made the announcement during a special meeting called for the occasion.

“As chief, it’s my responsibility to this agency and to the entire community to promote leaders who will continue to move our department forward, with the utmost concern for safe, ethical and effective police services,” Bevan said.

While a number of highly qualified individuals were considered for the positions, Bevan said, Cramer and McWade possessed all those qualities and she felt they could hit the ground running.

Cramer has been with the Bradenton Police Department since 1995, and most recently has held the rank of captain since 2015.

McWade, a 29-year veteran from the St. Petersburg Police Department, was most recently the commander of the department’s Crimes Against Persons Detective Division.

Cramer and McWade will both be officially sworn in to their new positions at 3 p.m. June 6 in the Bradenton Council Chambers.

Mayor and Police Commissioner Wayne Poston stood at Bevan’s side as she made the announcement.

“I am excited about this,” Poston said. “I couldn’t be happier with my decision to bring the chief in and the decision she has made to bring someone from outside and someone from inside, I think it’s going to work well.”

Bevan also named two news head dispatchers, Eva Maria Kelly and Bradley Myers.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 10:51 AM with the headline "Bradenton police chief names two assistant chiefs."