BRADENTON CHIEF WARNS EVERS: DON'T POLITICIZE COPS

This is in response to the article in the Sunday edition titled
"Former mayor kicks off campaign." As chief of police for the City of
Bradenton, I always try to stay out of the gun sights of campaigners
because the Bradenton Police Department needs to be viewed by the
residents as non-political and as administering and applying the law
fairly and impartially.

Mr. Evers' statement that "Our new chief says Bradenton is too small
for a drug unit . . ." is misleading and does a disservice to our
city, for it implies that there is no drug enforcement. The Bradenton
Police Department is, in fact, enforcing the drug laws vigorously. Any
suggestion that drug enforcement is not being conducted is truly a
disservice to all residents, visitors and businesses. Tactics such as
buy busts, observation posts, search warrants and other tactics to
enforce the drug laws are being executed by our officers with great
success.

Mr. Evers goes on to say, ". . .in January we'll have a unit."
Dedicating officers to work solely on drug cases will come at the
expense of neighborhood patrols and other critical police services to
the community at large. I wonder what neighborhood Mr. Evers is going
to take these officers from?

The key to a modern, professional police department is not specialized
units but a balanced approach working with the community and the
businesses to make Bradenton a better place to live, work, visit and
conduct business. Our officers are very enthusiastic about the
department's current approach to community policing, which includes
drug enforcement.

The Bradenton Police Department is on the move with accreditation, a
community-based policing strategy, and has developed a new internal
motto of "Professionalism through continuous improvement." Please, Mr.
Evers, for the sake of the residents of the City of Bradenton, do not
try to politicize the police department.

MICHAEL RADZILOWSKI

Chief of Police,
City of Bradenton