Polk County Sheriff’s Phone# 863-298-6200
If in an emergency Dial 911
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 Alicia Manautou. 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.
Jul 26, 2021
Polk County’s second rabies case of the year confirmed
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
A fox that was being aggressive and trying to attack six barn cats, four horses, and two cows at a Polk City property has been confirmed to have been infected with rabies.
The owner of the animals saw the fox snapping at her cats in her barn on July 21, 2021, and killed it.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control responded to collect the fox, and it was sent to the state laboratory in Tampa for testing.
On Friday, July 23rd, the results of the test confirmed that the fox was infected with rabies.
The woman’s animals are not currently vaccinated for rabies. They will be quarantined for possible exposure.
"Most of the rabies cases we see in Polk County are either bats or raccoons. This is a reminder that any mammals can get rabies. If you have a dog or cat, get them vaccinated against rabies. And anytime you see a wild animal interacting with your pets, contact Animal Control immediately." Grady Judd, Sheriff
This is Polk County’s second case of rabies in 2021. The previous case involved a raccoon last month, also in the Polk City area.