K-9 Donated To PCSO in Honor of Allison Sousa

The family of Allison Sousa, the victim of a tragic double-homicide that occurred earlier this year, recently honored her memory by paying for the purchase of a new dog for the K-9 Unit of the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Alice Diggett, Allison's mother, had the idea while wandering around this year's Fall Fest at the PCC campus. Alice said the K-9 display is usually a big hit at this event, and the thought hit them that one way their family could give back to the community who supported them during this tragedy would be to donate a police dog back to the community. She then contacted PCSO and offered to finance the purchase of a dog.

Alice, her husband Michael, and widower Tim Sousa came to the Sheriff's Office on Monday, December 15, 2003, to present Sheriff Lawrence W. Crow, Jr. with a check in the amount of $6,000. Early next year, the K-9 Unit will arrange for the Diggetts and Mr. Sousa to accompany them to pick out the dog, whom the family has already named "Bolt". The name for the dog was agreed upon by the family to further honor Allison's memory, as she was a Tampa Bay Lightning fan.