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.

Apr 25, 2023

Sheriff Judd Recognizes Outstanding PCSO Members at Annual Awards Ceremony

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Administrator

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Executive Staff members of the Polk County Sheriff's Office will recognize law enforcement, detention, civilian, and volunteer members of the agency on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at Lake Eva Event Center in Haines City, at the "2023 PCSO Annual Awards Ceremony." On hand to help recognize these members will be county elected officials and administrators, and other special dignitaries.

Each year, PCSO holds an awards ceremony naming the Deputy Sheriff, Detention Deputy, Civilian, Reserve Deputy Sheriff, and Volunteer of the Year. In addition to these awards, Sheriff Judd will award the Medal of Honor, Medals of Valor, Life-Saving Medals, the Marshall Anderson Award, and Meritorious Service Medals to those members who went above and beyond the call of duty during 2022.

The Sheriff's Citation will also be posthumously awarded to Deputy Sheriff Blane Lane, who was killed in the line of duty on October 4, 2022. His family will accept the award on his behalf.

The media is invited to attend this event. Some award recipients and nominees may be undercover - the PIOs will be on-hand to assist you in identifying those members who cannot be photographed or videotaped. Please contact us for assistance.