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Public Information Office

The Public Information Office is responsible for sending out news releases; handling all media inquiries; releasing public records in compliance with the Florida Public Records Law; composing and sending out Crimestoppers bulletins; scheduling and conducting news conferences; coordinating agency crisis communications; creating and distributing two monthly newsletters for both internal and external customers; developing news items for the Sheriff’s News Network, an electronic bulletin board for internal and external customers; coordinating community events for the Sheriff’s Office; and handling numerous other special projects as requested by the Sheriff and PCSO senior management.

The Public Information Office operates within the Office of Communications.  The Public Information Office is staffed with two Public Information Officers (PIOs) who share the 24-hour on-call responsibilities.  Both PIOs work Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., in the office.  Every other week one will be on-call after hours and on weekends for news-breaking or emergency situations, at which times they can be reached via cell phone.  Please see our On-Call Policy  and our PIO On Call Schedule for further information. 

PIO Carrie Rodgers  began her career at the Sheriff’s Office in 1999 working for the Law Enforcement Colonel.  Carrie joined the Public Information Office in 2002.  She spent 6 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Cryptologic Arabic Linguist, and has two 2-year degrees.  She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree at Troy University and she holds a Certified Public Manager certification from Florida State University. Carrie is the Vice President of the Florida Law Enforcement Public Information Officers Association (FLEPIOA). Carrie can be reached via email at crodgers@polksheriff.org, or in her office at 863-534-6217. For more information about FLEPIOA, visit www.flepioa.org.

PIO Donna Wood began her career with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in December 1994 as a Crime Prevention Specialist.  She has served as a community liaison the duration of her tenure and served nine years as the Crime Prevention Administrator.  She holds a Certified Public Manager certification from Florida State University, a Bachelor’s Degree, Mass Communications (Public Relations) - University of South Florida, Tampa, and a Masters of Science in Management from Troy University, Tampa.  She is a member of the Florida Public Relations Association.  Donna can be reached via email at dcwood@polksheriff.org, or in her office at 863-534-6631.

There are several ways to access the latest information released by the Public Information Office:

The PCSO News Line is updated by the on-call PIO on a daily basis with any ongoing newsworthy activities.  Anyone can call the News Line to get the latest information by dialing 863-534-6397. 

All news releases are put into Breaking news on the PCSO website, and are also distributed electronically to all local media and law enforcement agencies.  News releases are later archived in the News Room area of the website.

Check out our News Room for a database of news releases, pictures, and sound clips dating back to 2000. 

Public Information Office On-Call Policy:

The Public Information Office strives to be responsive and professional, acting in compliance with the Florida Public Records law and in the best interest of the agency, the news media, and the people of Polk County. Routine media inquiries and records requests are handled as expeditiously as possible during normal business hours. After hours and on weekends, a PIO is always on-call for emergencies and for significant breaking news events.

After hours, the on-call PIO will generally not have information regarding non-fatal car crashes, routine arrests, crimes not resulting in death or critical injury, or the status of cases that are not considered breaking news.

Written records, including arrest affidavits and event reports, are not made available to the PIOs after hours or on weekends, however, arrest reports can be obtained by the media from the jail at Central Book-In in Bartow.

On-call PIOs should be contacted only in situations of high importance.  After hours and on weekends, news media representatives should check the News Line (863-534-6397), which will be updated with any news-breaking information and with the contact information for the PIO on-call. 

Public Information Office On-Call Schedule
Begin End PIO # of Days
February 08, 0800 February 15, 0800 C. Rodgers 7
February 15, 0800 February 22, 0800 D. Wood 7
February 22, 0800 February 23, 0800 S. Wilder 1
February 23, 0800 February 29, 0800 C. Rodgers 6
February 29, 0800 March 07, 0800 D. Wood 7
March 07, 0800 March 14, 0800 C. Rodgers 7
March 14, 0800 March 21, 0800 D. Wood 7
March 21, 0800 March 28, 0800 C. Rodgers 7
March 28, 0800 April 04, 0800 D. Wood 7
April 04, 0800 April 11, 0800 C. Rodgers 7
April 11, 0800 April 18, 0800 D. Wood 7
April 18, 0800 April 25, 0800 C. Rodgers 7
April 25, 0800 May 02, 0800 D. Wood 7

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