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.

Nov 13, 2019

9th case of rabies confirmed in Polk County

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

The Polk County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Section confirmed on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, the ninth positive rabies case in Polk County for the year.

On Monday, November 11, 2019, PCSO received a call from a resident in southeast Bartow whose two dogs had cornered a raccoon in her backyard. The raccoon was captured alive, and Animal Control sent it away for rabies testing.
The raccoon was confirmed positive for rabies two days later.

There have been eight prior confirmed rabies cases in Polk County so far this year. This is the fourth case involving a raccoon, while the other five cases were bats.

“Please call Polk County Animal Control immediately if you find a diseased or injured animal such as a bat, fox, or raccoon, in your neighborhood. Do not interact with it. Also, make sure your pets are vaccinated as required.” - Grady Judd, Sheriff