Polk County Sheriff’s Phone# 863-298-6200
If in an emergency Dial 911
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.
Apr 22, 2021
Polk County Jail inmates to receive Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations
Media Contact: Scott Wilder, Director
Through a partnership between the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County, and Corizon Health, the health care provider in Polk County’s jails, county inmates will be offered the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine starting this weekend.
“COVID-19 vaccinations are now readily available to the general public in Polk County. We believe now is the appropriate time to offer inmates the vaccine. We are thankful for the partnership we have with the Florida Department of Health and Corizon Health to make this happen.” –Grady Judd, Sheriff
Vaccines will be available at the Central County Jail in Bartow and the South County Jail in unincorporated Frostroof. Beginning Thursday and Friday, any Polk County Sheriff’s Office members working in the facilities who have not yet had the vaccine, and who want to receive one, will have the opportunity to be vaccinated prior to the general vaccination of inmates. Then, over the weekend and going forward, any inmate who wants a vaccine will be able to receive them, based on available supply. Second vaccines will also be available for those inmates still in jail. For those who will be released, they would contact the Department of Health to schedule their second vaccine.