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.

Feb 13, 2019

Second rabies case of 2019 confirmed in Polk County

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO

The Polk County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Section confirmed on Wednesday, February 13, 2019, the second positive Rabies case in Polk County for the year.

On February 11, 2019, PCSO received a call for service in reference to three German Shepherd dogs that were in a fight with a raccoon in the Winter Ridge Drive area of Auburndale. The raccoon was killed by the dogs' owner. The dogs were not seriously injured.

The raccoon was collected and sent out for rabies testing. Results of the test were received on February 13, 2019, which confirmed rabies.

All three dogs were placed into the appropriate quarantine.

There were three confirmed rabies cases in Polk County in 2018.