Crime decreases in Bradenton Beach

No violent crimes were reported in Bradenton Beach in 2022.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Police

Chief John Cosby reports that crimes citywide decreased by 23% in 2022.

On March 16, Cosby reviewed with city commissioners the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) statistics for 2022. According to the report, no violent offenses were reported in Bradenton Beach in 2022. The report lists murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault as violent offenses.

“For the 2022 year, our crime was down 23.3%,” Cosby told commissioners. “We attribute some of that to luck and we’re going attribute some of that to some of the changes that were made with scheduling. I allowed the officers to pick their own schedules, so they’re happier. I attribute that and also the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) patrols. That has helped out immensely.”

When the fiscal year 2023-24 budget preparations begin later this year, Cosby will request that Wednesdays be added to the current schedule of additional police patrols funded by the CRA for policing within the CRA district. The CRA district extends from the Cortez Bridge to Fifth Street South and includes the Bridge Street area. The additional CRA-funded police patrols currently take place Thursday through Sunday.

According to the UCR report, home and property burglaries increased from three in 2021 to six in 2022, but larcenies decreased from 26 to 15. Motor vehicle thefts increased from one to two and there were 11 reported instances of unlocked vehicles being burglarized.

Four simple assaults were reported in 2022, compared to five in 2021. The UCR report lists two reported domestic violation offenses in 2022, compared to zero in 2021.

Of the 15 arrests made in 2022, nine arrestees were males, six were females and one was a juvenile.

In October 2021, Cosby was sworn in as the city’s new police chief after Chief Sam Speciale retired.

Regarding the 2022 crime statistics, Mayor John Chappie said to Cosby: “I attribute it to the training and the team you’ve created and all the hard work you’ve done in the last year and a half. We do greatly appreciate it and it’s showing in all aspects of the police department.”