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 Alicia Manautou. 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.

Jul 6, 2022

PCSO seeks substitute school crossing guards

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is looking for qualified men and women in Polk County to fill some open substitute school crossing guard positions.

The areas where the substitutes are needed are in: Lake Wales, Fort Meade, Lakeland, and Highland City.

Interested individuals are asked to contact School Crossing Supervisor Heather Strafford at (863) 534-7300 ext. 108.

Applicants would need to be available to work for one hour in the morning and for 30 minutes in the afternoon when scheduled to work a crossing.

School Crossing Guard services are provided by the Polk County Sheriff's Office through funds provided by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. This vital program provides adult crossing guards at selected hazardous school crossings to ensure the safety of our elementary school children walking to and from school.