News and Investigations

By order of the Sheriff, there is a curfew in effect beginning at 8:00 p.m. this evening, Monday, June 1, 2020, until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Please read the declaration:

DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, the past three days in Central Florida there have been incidents of rioting and civil unrest, felonious activity, and aggravated assaults upon law enforcement officers; and

WHEREAS, the afternoon of May 31, 2020 through the early morning hours of June 1, 2020 serious incidents occurred in Lakeland, including threat of injury to civilians, aggravated assault and or battery to civilian(s), aggravated assault on law enforcement officers and failure to disperse following lawful orders by law enforcement officers. As such, both the Lakeland Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office had to respond; and

WHEREAS, Grady Judd, Sheriff of Polk County Florida entered a Declaration of Local State of Emergency for the time period of May 31, 2020 at 10:00 p.m. through 5:00 a.m. June 1, 2020, which has expired; and

WHEREAS, as of the time of entering this Declaration of State of Emergency there have been multiple social media posts indicating the intention to continue the type of behavior described above throughout several sites across Polk County, Florida; and

WHEREAS, the Governor has not declared a State of Emergency; and

WHEREAS, I have determined that there have been acts of violence or a flagrant and substantial defiance of, or resistance to, a lawful exercise of public authority and that, on account thereof, there is reason to believe that there exists a clear and present danger of a riot or other general public disorder, widespread disobedience of the law, and substantial injury to persons or to property, all of which constitute an imminent threat to public peace or order and to the general welfare of the affected jurisdiction.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT DECLARED, BY GRADY JUDD, SHERIFF, POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA:

Section 1. Incorporation of Recitals:
The Recitals above are hereby adopted and fully incorporated herein.

Section 2. Declaration of Local State of Emergency. Pursuant to §870.043, Florida Statutes, there is hereby declared a Local State of Emergency within the boundaries of all of Polk County, Florida commencing at 8:00 p.m. on June 1, 2020 and continuing through June 2nd, expiring at 5:00 a.m. June 2, 2020.

Section 3. Emergency Measures: Pursuant to §870.045, Florida Statutes, a curfew is declared and imposed during the Local State of Emergency and all persons within Polk County, Florida are mandated to stay inside, with the exception of lawfully performing their job activities, including travel to and from said jobs, seeking medical care at a hospital, fire, police, and hospital services, including the transportation of patients thereto, utility emergency repairs, and emergency calls by physicians. Additionally, sale or other transfer of possession, with or without consideration, of gasoline is prohibited.

Section 4. Additional Automatic Emergency Measures: The additional acts specified in §870.044, Florida States are prohibited automatically, due to the declaration of a state of local emergency.

Section 5: Violations: Violations of this Declaration of Local State of Emergency constitute a crime as outlined in Chapter 870, Florida Statutes and other Florida Statutes.