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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.

Awny Abdel Malek Basta
Dec 20, 2024

Polk County Sheriff’s Off...

Sex offender offends again, this time against a juvenile in Lakeland

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POP TOP
Dec 20, 2024

Operation Pop Top: Lakela...

Nine stores were compliant, but one failed.

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Donald Mitchell
Dec 19, 2024

PCSO arrests former teach...

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 36-year-old Donald Mitchell of Lakeland for sexual off...

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Thomas Griffin Mug Shot
Dec 18, 2024

PCSO arrests Lake Wales t...

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 51-year-old Thomas Griffin, a middle school teacher at...

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Lara Alexandre
Dec 18, 2024

Woman committing multiple...

Polk County Sheriff's deputies patrolling the school zone outside Ridgeview Global Studies on Dunson...

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Joe Phillips
Dec 18, 2024

PCSO helicopter pilot's a...

Joe Phillips could be heading to prison for a fifth time

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