Skip to main content

Tag: Bradenton Beach Police Department

BB Officer Straight

Devon Straight joins Bradenton Beach Police Department

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – Nineteen-year-old Devon Straight is Bradenton Beach’s newest police officer.

He was sworn in on Thursday morning, Nov. 15, then introduced to the City Commission at its noon meeting. He began his field training this weekend.

Devon is the grandson of former City Commissioner Ed Straight. He’s also the youngest officer hired during Police Chief Sam Speciale’s 30-plus-year tenure with the city.

When introducing Devon to the commission, Speciale said, “When I first got here everybody said to me, ‘You’re Joe Speciale’s son.’ It took a lot of years for someone to go up to him and say, ‘You’re Sam Speciale’s dad.’ Devon grew up in the shadow of Mr. Straight – a commissioner, a sheriff’s deputy, EMS chief and all that – and people will say, ‘You’re Ed Straight’s grandson.’ After a few years, he’ll be driving around and they’ll say, ‘Hey Ed, aren’t you Devon’s grandfather?’ He’ll be driving car #2, one of the new SUVs, so when you see him driving around wave to him.”

Mayor John Chappie joked that Devon might stick around long enough to be the police chief someday.

BB Officer Straight II
Former commissioner Ed Straight joined his grandson Devon at Thursday’s commission meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Devon has spent much of his life thus far working with his grandparents, Ed and Gail Straight, rescuing and caring for injured, sick and displaced wildlife at the Bradenton Beach-based Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center.

“I couldn’t ask for a better place to work, right on the beach. I already know most everybody in the community from my work with Wildlife Inc. I’m proud to serve in a different capacity. I spent my life saving animals, now I get to use my talents to save peoples’ lives,” Devon said of his new job with the police department.

He received his law enforcement training at the Manatee Technical College. He started in January and graduated in June.

BB Officer Straight Flashback
Three-year-old Devon Straight and his grandfather Ed Straight, shown here in 2002. – Gail Straight | Submitted

When asked why he wanted to be a police officer, Devon said, “I’m following my grandfather’s footsteps. He was a reserve sheriff’s deputy for Manatee County. Ever since then he’s inspired me and I thought it was the coolest job. To be in a uniform and go out and saves lives has always been my dream.”

Devon will continue to volunteer at Wildlife Inc. as his new work schedule allows.

“I’m sure my days off will go to good use with them,” he said.

“We’re very proud of him,” Ed said. “Considering all the different things that can happen to kids and grandkids nowadays, working with the wildlife helped him stay on the right track. He got the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award from Bayshore High School during his junior year for his work with the wildlife.

BB Officer Straight Sworn
Devon Straight was sworn in as the city’s newest officer by City Clerk Terri Sanclemente. – Ed Straight | Submitted

“I told him to do his best at the academy because people are always going to look back on how well you did with your training. We’re proud that he came really close to coming in first at the academy. He missed it by just a few points. On the state board exam he did get the highest score in his class. His class started out with 24 people and ended up with 12 people graduating, so it was a tough class to make it through. His teacher said, ‘He’s not a quitter,’ so we’re proud of him,” Ed said.

When asked about the hiring, Speciale said, “We looked at our applications and we thought it would be good to have a new guy right out of the academy.”

Bradenton Beach boats tagged

Abandoned boats tagged for removal

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Police have tagged four abandoned boats as part of the increased enforcement efforts taking place in the unmanaged anchorage near the historic Bridge Street Pier.

On Tuesday, May 8, Officer Eric Hill piloted the police boat into the navigable waters that provide anchorage for approximately 40 vessels. Lt. John Cosby then affixed to four vessels the bright orange stickers that serve as official notice that the city intends to have the abandoned vessel removed.

Bradenton Beach abandoned boats officers
Officer Eric Hill piloted the police boat and Lt. John Cosby tagged the boats deemed to be abandoned. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The stickers declare the abandoned vessels to be unlawfully located in city waters and order them removed within five days. The stickers note the boats have been identified by a law enforcement officer as being lost or abandoned property according to state law.

“Otherwise, it will be removed and disposed pursuant to Chapter 705, Florida Statutes,” the notice says.

Bradenton Beach boats sunke
This sunken boat south of the Bridge Street Pier has been designated for future removal. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Two of the tagged boats were sailboats and two were cabin cruisers. Cosby said a third sailboat that was going to be tagged was recently sold and the new owner must be given 30 days to register the vessel.

The stickers inform the boat owners that they have 21 days to appeal the violation or violations to a special master. Cosby said the owners would be given the allotted period to file an appeal before any vessels are removed.

The last known registered owner of each vessel tagged was sent a certified letter informing them of the city’s intentions. One of the vessels tagged was the cabin cruiser that belonged to former liveaboard boater Brandon Nieuwkoop, who drowned in the anchorage waters on March 31.

Cosby said the vessels were deemed abandoned according to previous enforcement efforts and research conducted by Hill. Cosby said there are three conditions that render a vessel derelict: no power, either by motor or sail; no working steering mechanism; and hull intrusion that compromises the integrity of the vessel’s ability to stay afloat.

When derelict and abandoned vessels are removed and destroyed, an outside contractor does the work and the city pays the contractor using grant money provided by the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND). Cosby said on average it costs between $2,500 and $5,000 to have a boat removed, depending on whether it’s already sunk. One of the motorboats tagged has already sunk; its hull is resting on the bottom.

Bradenton Beach boats cruiser
Tagged for pending removal, this boat formerly belonged to liveaboard boater Brandon Nieuwkoop, who drowned in late March. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Cosby estimated that three-quarters of the boats out there are in good shape and are compliant with city and state laws and regulations.

“We’ve tried to educate them. All we want you to do is be compliant and you’ll never hear from us,” he said. “We have a lot of boaters out here that are compliant and they do not want these bad boaters out here either.”

The police boat currently must be transported by trailer down to the Coquina boat ramps to be placed in the water. This will change when a new boat lift for the police boat is installed alongside the pier. This is expected to happen later this year using previously approved WCIND grant money.

“We can then drop the boat in the water and make a quick run out,” Cosby said, noting the city has three officers qualified to make marine patrols.