On Thursday, September 15, 2011, Polk County Sheriff’s School Resource deputies, along with the assistance of a PCSO Explorer (Explorers are high school student volunteers), conducted “Operation Pop-Top” in an effort to combat the illegal sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors. The operation was conducted in the Winter Haven, Mulberry, and Auburndale areas of Polk County.  

All ten stores checked were found to be in compliance with Florida State Statutes, refusing to sell alcohol to a minor. They are:  

Sunoco, 607 E. Canal St., Mulberry

Sunoco, 1285 N. Church Ave., Mulberry

Sunoco, 1502 Recker Hwy, Winter Haven

Superway Food Store, 2590 Recker Hwy, Winter Haven

Citgo, 90 Coleman Road, Winter Haven

7-Eleven, 4000 Recker Hwy, Winter Haven

Express Food Mart (Sunoco), 2727 Thornhill Road, Auburndale

Citgo, 2101 K Ville Ave., Auburndale

JK Food Store (Citgo), 3353 Spirit Lake Road, Winter Haven

Circle K, 4980 Spirit Lake Road, Winter Haven 

"We conduct operations like these each month with the hope that it will have these same results - we don't want store clerks selling alcohol or tobacco to anyone underage. I would like to personally thank each of these stores and their employees for complying with the law, and helping us in our efforts to keep the children of Polk County safe." - Sheriff Grady Judd