Click Here for ADA Accessible Format

Polk County Sheriff’s Phone# 863-298-6200

If in an emergency Dial 911

Polk County Sheriff Facebook Polk County Sheriff Twitter Polk County Sheriff Instagram Polk County Sheriff Youtube

Hit enter to search or ESC to close

always looking out for our community

Citizen Alerts

alert-polk

Polk County uses Alert Polk - a critical communications system shared with most public safety operations across the State of Florida - to inform residents about public safety threats and concerns. During situations that may affect the health, safety, and welfare of Polk County residents, Alert Polk is used to out messages to subscribers, using their telephone numbers and email addresses.

PCSO also uses Alert Polk to notify citizens when a registered sexual predator relocates, per the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (see below).

Emergency notifications include:

• Tornadoes/Severe Weather
• Mandatory Evacuations
• Boil Water Orders
• Gas Leaks
• Sexual Predator Relocation Notices
• Critical Law Enforcement Notifications
• Hurricanes
• Hurricane Recovery Information

When you subscribe for emergency notifications, you'll receive vital updates when severe weather is threatening the county or about crime trends in your neighborhood. You'll also have the option of receiving community informational alerts.

You don't have to live in the county to register. Click here to subscribe.

These time-critical notifications will be sent directly to your home phone, cell phone, or email address. When you register, please be aware that phone carrier charges may apply for all alert messages and data. You will only receive alerts that affect the address you register.

Rabid bat in Bartow

Area/location : Orange Avenue, Bartow
Message from : Polk County Animal Control
News date : Jun 20, 2023
Details :
The second case of rabies in 2023 has been confirmed in Polk County. 

On June 14, 2023, a family dog in the Orange Avenue area of Bartow was found with a bat in its mouth. The family contacted PCSO Animal Control, and an officer took possession of the bat. Its carcass was sent to Tampa for testing.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Section received the test results from the state laboratory in Tampa on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, which showed the bat was positive for the deadly virus.

The dog was not injured by the bat, and has been vaccinated. 
 
If you have any questions please contact Animal Control at 863-577-1762.