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.

May 2, 2022

Polk County Peace Officers' Annual Memorial Service set for May 5, 2022

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Administrator

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is proud to join the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Polk County Lodge #46 and the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial Fund (PCLEMF), Inc., at the 34th Annual Polk County Peace Officers' Memorial Service at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial in Lakeland Veterans Park (located off of Lake Beulah Drive, west of the RP Funding Center).

Family members of fallen officers, representatives from various Polk County law enforcement agencies, public service organizations, and state and local government agencies will be attending. The public is also invited to attend.

A total of 36 Law Enforcement and Corrections officers who made the “supreme sacrifice and died in the line of duty” while serving the citizens of Polk County with various State, County and Local law enforcement and corrections agencies will be honored during the Memorial Service “Roll Call of Heroes.” During this year's ceremony we will be adding the name of our own fallen hero, PCSO Deputy Sheriff Christopher Broadhead, to the Memorial wall. Deputy Broadhead died in the line of duty on August 23, 2021, due to COVID.

Highlights of the service will include: Joint Agency Officer Processional March; Presentation of Colors by a Joint Agency Color Guard; Roll Call of Heroes; Helicopter Fly Over; Retreat of the Fallen Rider by the PCSO Mounted Unit; Bagpipe players; 3 Gun Volley; and Taps.

Immediately following the service, the FOP Polk County Lodge #46 and PCLEMF will host the 34th Annual Memorial Service Luncheon at the FOP Lodge located at 125 West Brannen Rd in Lakeland. All are welcome.

For more information, please call David Waller, Chairman PCLEMF, Inc., at 863-529-3709.