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.

Dec 11, 2017

Polk Sheriff's Charities, Inc., Donates $100,000 to Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches for "Scholarship House"

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO

On Monday, December 11, 2017, at 4:30 p.m., Sheriff Grady Judd and the Polk Sheriff's Charities, Inc., board members will present a check in the amount of $100,000 to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches at the Youth Villa facility, 3360 SR 60 East in Bartow.

The donation will fund a "Polk Sheriff's Charities Scholarship House." The house will help the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches (FSYR) staff assist recipients of the scholarship in transitioning from the structured environment to independent living.

"The youth and the staff at the Youth Villa in Bartow are very special to us, and we want to take some of the money we've raised through our charity to help them succeed even further, beyond the program. We're very excited to have this opportunity to change the lives of some very special young adults. Thank you for your ongoing support of our charity - it is through your contributions at our annual events, such as Jeepin' With Judd* and Bustin' Clays With Sheriff Judd*, that donations like these are made possible. Together, we are making a positive difference!" - Grady Judd, Sheriff

The goals of the program are:

To provide scholarship students the opportunity to succeed, and become self-sustaining through their lifetime;
To establish a post-secondary educational and independent living skills home;
To improve academic performance;
To provide a safe, respectful, cooperative environment while furthering education and moving toward a more independent lifestyle;

The allotted funds will be used to renovating an already-existing cottage at the facility to accommodate 12 scholarship recipients, with the goal of completion prior to the fall of 2018.

Up to 12 young adults will live in shared living accommodations (much like a dorm or fraternity house), with a house parent/resident advisor providing supervision, teaching independent living classes, tutoring, and helping the residents navigate their first two years of college, trade, or vocational school. House rules will be established, and scholarship students will lose their place in the scholarship house if they do not follow the rules.