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.

Aug 12, 2019

Seventh case of rabies in 2019 confirmed in Polk County

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO

The Polk County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Section confirmed on Friday, August 9, 2019, the seventh positive rabies case in Polk County for the year.

On Tuesday, August 6, 2019, PCSO received a call from a Polk City dog owner who found a bat in her dogs' kennel area. Animal Control collected the bat and sent it away for rabies testing.

The bat was confirmed positive for rabies three days later.

All of the owners' dogs are vaccinated for rabies and will obtain rabies boosters.

There have been six prior confirmed rabies cases in Polk County so far this year.