A Florida union head is calling for the Bradenton Police Department's chief to be suspended and has filed an administrative complaint against the City for alleged unfair labor practices after its top cop allegedly conducted an illegal search – and her department then took "abusive" steps against the officer who reported her, Fox News has learned.
The Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA) on Wednesday filed its complaint against the city, and specifically named the Bradenton Police Department and Chief Melanie Bevan. The complaint cited "unfair labor practices" after the agency’s "abusive and prejudicial interrogations" of an officer who reported that Bevan unlawfully searched a person and a home, according to the document and union officials.
"If one of my officers was faced with a similar allegation that exists and that has been sworn to involving the chief, that officer would have been placed in an immediate administrative leave capacity until a thorough investigation was conducted and completed," said Mick McHale, president of the Southwest Florida PBA.
A spokesperson for the Bradenton Police Department told Fox News Digital the agency was aware of the document alleging "unfair labor practice charge filed by the Florida PBA with the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission."
"That complaint involves a currently active administrative investigation that is confidential under Florida law. As such, we are prohibited from disclosing and unable to comment at this...
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