Polk County Sheriff’s Phone# 863-298-6200
If in an emergency Dial 911
Crime Prevention Programs for adults
Please click the dropdown menu on the left for a list of FREE programs and classes we offer for adults.
Below are signs and other crime prevention services available to our residents:
Crime Prevention Programs for adults
Drive Safely Signs
We are committed to public safety, and that includes reminding motorists to slow down in lower speed limit areas, especially neighborhoods.
This durable "Drive like your kids live here" sign and stand are free to people who live in Polk County, and will serve as a subtle reminder to those driving through neighborhoods to slow down.
We do have certain rules that must be followed:
• Limit - One per household, please
• Available for homeowners and renters in Polk County
• Must comply with Polk County’s sign ordinance
• The sign is classified as a “Short-Term Temporary Sign”
• It can be displayed up to 90 consecutive days (similar to a campaign sign)
• Up to twice per calendar year
• Sign permit is not required
• Minimum 10-foot setback from a roadway
• Please respect homeowner’s association rules
• Please review and comply with local sign ordinance rules if you live inside a city.
• Please do not place signs adjacent to major roadways, on public rights-of-way, near intersections that might affect visibility, or placing signs in “every yard in the neighborhood.”
• Make sure signs do not interfere with visibility for backing out of driveways.
To request a sign email us at crimeprevention@polksheriff.org or call us at 863-298-6677, and give us your name, address, and phone number.
We will deliver a sign to your residence.
Signs may also be picked up (one only, please—not multiple signs) at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center at 1891 Jim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven.
Crime Prevention Programs for adults
Neighborhood Watch
Welcome to one of the best crime fighting teams our community has - Neighborhood Watch. Through the Neighborhood Watch program, together we can better ensure the safety of your family, home, and community. As an active member, you are encouraged to be and to act as the “eyes and ears” of law enforcement.
Neighborhood Watch consists of two meetings. At the first meeting a Specialist will instruct you on:
- Reporting suspicious activities, vehicles, and persons
- Operation Identification
- Vial of Life
- 911 usage
At the second meeting we will discuss:
- Home Security
- Auto Theft Awareness
- Any specific problems your neighborhood might be experiencing such as mail theft, vehicle theft, drugs, or speeding.
- PCSO will provide "Neighborhood Watch" signs to post in your community.
The real keys to this program are getting to know your neighbors, reporting suspicious persons, vehicles, or activities, thereby reducing the opportunity of crime occurring in your neighborhood.
To initiate a Neighborhood Watch program in your community, please call the Crime Prevention Section at 863-298-6677 or email crimeprevention@polksheriff.org.
Business Watch
The goal of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is to educate business owners, managers, and employees about preventing crime in the workplace.
Business Watch is a unique program designed for businesses to establish a formal network of communication between businesses in a specific area or industry, their employees, and the Sheriff’s Office regarding crime-related problems.
Business Watch provides a vehicle for crime prevention specialists to educate and guide business owners and employees in the following areas:
- Crime Reporting
- Operation Identification
- Robbery Prevention and Awareness
- Burglary Prevention
- Personal Safety and Self-Protection
Simply stated, Business Watch asks everyone in businesses to be the eyes and ears of their local law enforcement agency.
For more information on this program and how to organize a Business Watch, contact the Crime Prevention Section at 863-298-6677 during normal business hours or email crimeprevention@polksheriff.org.
C.A.T. - Combat Auto Theft
The "Combat Auto Theft Decal Program" is a statewide program designed to assist law enforcement by identifying vehicles that are not usually driven during the early morning hours
C.A.T. is offered free to the public and is a voluntary automobile decal registration program that authorizes law enforcement officers to make investigative stops of registered vehicles.
The program benefits are multifold: deterring vehicle theft, aiding in the recovery of stolen/abandoned vehicles, and aiding in the identification of stolen/abandoned vehicles.
Registering Vehicles for C.A.T
When registering a vehicle, the owner must sign a consent form that certifies the auto is not ordinarily operated between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. This affirmation provides law enforcement with reasonable suspicion that any person found operating a participating vehicle during these hours is in possession of the vehicle without the owner's consent, thus justifying a stop of the vehicle. In fact, it is during these morning hours that many stolen vehicles are on the road.
Upon registration, a Crime Prevention Specialist will affix a decal to the inside lower left rear window or lower left front window (only in cases where the vehicle has no rear window). The decal identifies registration and contains an assigned serial number, which can be cross-referenced with a registration log maintained at the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Vehicle owners may obtain registration information at one of PCSO's substations - click here for a full list.
Contact PCSO Crime Prevention for more information at 863-298-6677 or email crimeprevention@polksheriff.org.
Sheriff’s Leadership Council Tour
The Sheriff’s Leadership Council Tour is a one-day tour of our agency that allows community and business leaders the opportunity to view PCSO operations firsthand. As a participant of this program, you will many of the day-to-day operating functions of the agency. This program helps us create steadfast partnerships that will enhance the quality of life for our citizens.
The mission of the Sheriff’s Leadership Council is to:
- EDUCATE citizens about PCSO and the services we provide
- Build AWARENESS for community involvement in crime prevention
- Provide INTERACTION between our agency members and our community
If you, your neighborhood association, business, or civic group are interested in attending this one-day opportunity, please contact the Crime Prevention Section at 863-298-6677 or email crimeprevention@polksheriff.org.
The Seniors vs. Crime project, sponsored by the Office of the Attorney General, allows consumer-conscious seniors to be actively involved in protecting their communities and their fellow seniors from becoming victims of consumer fraud.
Volunteer “Senior Sleuths” investigate and attempt to resolve complaints they receive from seniors in the local community, and often assist the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and local law enforcement as requested. They also help educate the public about the program as well as common scams that typically target seniors.
Please email your questions or concerns to seniorsvscrime@gmail.com, or call 863-577-1672 or 863-577-1673. The office is manned on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
Seniors Vs. Crime
