Sheriff Grady Judd is pleased to report that the crime rate in the Polk County Sheriff’s Office primary law enforcement response area is down 5.64%. The Polk/PCSO crime rate is nearly one third less (32.34%) than the most recently published Florida state crime rate.

At approximately 11:00 am, Saturday, March 6, 2010, Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic deputies responded to Cass Road, near Adams Barn Road in Lake Alfred in reference to a Hit and Run Traffic Crash.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office joins hundreds of other law enforcement agencies across Florida in renewing a pledge to save lives by intensifying efforts to enforce seat belt laws during the national Click It or Ticket campaign, which runs from March 1 – March 15, 2010.

Polk County Sheriff’s Robbery detectives have arrested a Lake Wales man this evening wanted for a home invasion robbery in which a 69-year-old woman was punched in the face and her jewelry and cash was taken.

On Thursday, February 18, 2010, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 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 Mulberry and south Lakeland area.

This most recent warning comes as a result of Polk County Sheriff’s detectives spotting several men from out-of-state driving around the Lakeland area, attempting to solicit paving work from residents and local businesses on a cash payment basis.

31-year-old Detention Deputy Maria Guzman was fired yesterday, February 17, 2010, for two sustained allegations of improper conduct (untruthfulness and conduct unbecoming of a member of the Sheriff’s Office).

A 9-year-old Lakeland boy was severely injured late Thursday afternoon, February 18, 2010, when a WWII “Pineapple” grenade exploded in his hand.