MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County Beach Patrol has been named 2025 Beach Patrol of the Year by the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association (FBPCA).
The award recognition was formally presented during the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Jan. 27.
“The award honors the division’s exceptional performance, professionalism and commitment to public safety,” says the press release that notes the county beach patrol also won the award in 2017.
Manatee County Beach Patrol serves Coquina Beach, Cortez Beach (in Bradenton Beach) and Manatee Beach.
“Throughout 2025, Manatee County Beach Patrol consistently demonstrated lifesaving excellence on and off the water. The team assisted with locating and reuniting more than 200 missing persons with their families or loved ones. Most of those cases involved children,” the press release says.
According to the press release, Manatee County Beach Patrol conducted more than 300 water rescues and responded to approximately 1,400 medical incidents. Of those responses, more than 350 were advanced life-support calls, including cardiac arrests.
In the press release, Beach Patrol and Aquatic Safety Division Chief Chet Brown said, “Every time our lifeguards do a water rescue, they put their lives on the line. I am humbled to lead this team and work alongside them every day.”
County Commissioner Tal Siddique said, “The advanced lifesaving care and certifications they maintain are on par with firefighters and EMS. It’s incredible to have that level of protection on our beaches.”
