BRADENTON (WSNN) – Women are making their mark on the Suncoast.
During National Women’s History month, SNN is recognizing one of the many women in law enforcement, Bradenton Police Chief, Melanie Bevan.
For 34 years, she’s moved up the ranks; from undercover detective to sergeant to eventually chief. She was even a SWAT team member once.
Bevan says being in the spotlight as a woman in the field made her work harder and shine brighter.
“Blaze your own trail, whatever that path maybe because, in the end, you deserve the same opportunity as the person next to you,” Bevan said. “Oftentimes, there are going to be many doors in front of you throughout your life. It’s just important that you have the courage and confidence to walk through them.”
Bevan says she wants her legacy to be a good leader who takes care of her agency and her community.
While her days of running after bad guys are mainly over, her duty now is to keep her officers safe. Her number one obligation to the Suncoast is that 123 officers show up to work and go home safely.
