A police-related incident in a Bradenton Beach neighborhood prompted concerns from residents and a funding request from the police chief.
The incident occurred April 26, when the tranquility of a Bradenton Beach evening was turned on its head in the 1100 block of Bay Drive North.
The Bradenton Beach Police Department was called to deal with reports of an armed and unstable youth who had driven a stolen car to the island.
Officer Kyle Orms responded to the call.
At the scene, he discovered a group of more than 10 people surrounding the youth, who was alleged earlier in the day to have stolen a car and a handgun.
The youth was restrained by friends who had tracked him to the island using smartphones and Facebook tips.
Upon Orms’ arrival, the friends released the teen, who began to bash his head against a vehicle.
Orms subdued the teen and placed him in handcuffs.
The teenager appeared disoriented and declined to speak to the officer, who called EMS for an evaluation.
Meanwhile, officers from the Holmes Beach Police Department and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office arrived, as did another BBPD officer, Thomas Ferrara, who had just come on duty. Ferrara secured a gun and a vehicle.
The teen was transported to HCA Blake Hospital in Bradenton for medical treatment, then to a juvenile assessment center and eventually to a Centerstone facility.
Residents around the 1100 block of Bay Drive North attended the May 5 commission meeting to praise police but also to raise concerns.
Ken McDonough, chair of the Bradenton Beach Planning and Zoning Board, was among those who witnessed the incident.
He addressed the commission during public comment.
“Of all the years I’ve been here, I’ve never felt unsafe in Bradenton Beach,” McDonough said. “I think we have a great police force, they are always very visible, and I’ve never felt unsafe. That night everybody did in our neighborhood.”
Sheryl Blinde, a retired cardiac nurse who said she was used to dealing with emergencies, also spoke.
“I don’t know how this works down here,” Blinde said. “But, back home, when I call 911, we had minutes to spare.”
Blinde said she was concerned about being placed on hold by 911 when she called for help during the incident.
Commissioner Ralph Cole responded regarding the 911 system.
“It’s something that needs to be addressed in Manatee County,” he said. “I think it’s very important that we figure it all out.”
Police Chief John Cosby also made remarks. He said the department budget is insufficient, resulting in less police presence than he would like.
“I only had one officer on duty,” Cosby said, referring to the April 26 incident. “City of Holmes Beach has 3-4 people on duty every shift and has a budget of $3.5 million. The town of Longboat Key has 3-4 people on duty. Their budget is $3.5 million. My budget is $1.36 million. I can’t provide that kind of service. So you get what you pay for and that’s the bottom line.”
Cosby continued, “Every year the department heads are told, not just by this commission, by other commissions, ‘We are not raising taxes, make do with what you have.’”
Cosby said law enforcement problems would only grow as the county population grows.
“As this county grows, and more and more people continue to move here, these types of incidents are going to become more prevalent,” Cosby said.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Manatee County has a population of 403,253. Ten years ago, it was 323,427. It is estimated that in the next three years the population will exceed 500,000.
“We have to figure something out. We can’t keep doing this. Someone is going to get hurt, seriously hurt,” Cosby said.
Mayor John Chappie said he has been in talks with legislators regarding the use of tourist development tax dollars for public safety, as well as infrastructure problems brought on by tourism.
Currently, the resort tax spending is limited by state law.
“The amount of people who come out here, we have to provide for health, safety and welfare,” Chappie said. “We’re going to have to figure out how to do it.”
Cole emphasized the importance of a municipal police department: “It’s very important to me to have our own police department. I think that’s one of the greatest things we have in Bradenton Beach. My father was the mayor, and it was one of his big things. It was very important to him. We will just have to figure out a way to add some more to the budget.”