News and Investigations

News & Investigations

News Releases and Public Information

Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.

PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Meghan Petty. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.

The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.

Feb 22, 2019

Accreditation assessment team invites public comment

A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive April 3, 2019, to examine specific aspects of the Polk County Sheriff's Office policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

Since the agency is already nationally accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), it only has to comply with approximately 114 additional Florida-based standards in order to receive state accredited status. A copy of the standards is available through the Polk County Sheriff's Office Accreditation Unit in Winter Haven at 863-298-6368.

The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies throughout the state. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed.

For more information regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the Polk County Sheriff's Office ability to meet the standards of accreditation, please write:

CFA
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302
or email to flaccreditation@fdle.state.fl.us

Once the Commission's assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to receive accredited status. The accreditation is for three years. Verification by the team that the Polk County Sheriff's Office meets the Commission's standards is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation--a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.