Sheriff's Office Operates County Jail, Combats Crime

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is the largest law enforcement agency in the county with a budget of about $127 million and 1,590 full-time employees.

Sheriff Grady Judd was re-elected to his second four-year term in 2008.

The face of the Sheriff's Office, Judd is known for his frequent appearances in the news, including national programs such as Nancy Grace and Nightline. He has said it was always his dream as a boy to become sheriff.

In the past four years, the Sheriff's Office has expanded its domain, taking on law enforcement duties for the cities of Mulberry in 2009 and Dundee in 2008, and Polk City, Fort Meade, Frostproof and Eagle Lake in 2007.

The agency also provides telecommunications services for the cities of Auburndale, Davenport, Winter Haven and Lake Wales.

In addition to operating the Polk County Jail, the Sheriff's Office offers numerous community programs, including the Citizens Assisted Patrol, a volunteer patrol program that assists law enforcement in unincorporated areas of Polk County; Project Safe and Sound, a database program that assists in locating missing people with mental disabilities; and a parental Internet monitoring program called Computer COP, part of the Sheriff's Office work to protect children from online predators.

The Sheriff's Office also provides school crossing guards.

CONTACT INFORMATION

The main office is at Lawrence W. Crow Jr. Operations Center, 455 N. Broadway Ave. in Bartow.

The administrative phone numbers are 863-534-6200 or toll-free 800-226-0344.

The agency has five district offices:

Central District: 3635 Ave. G N.W., Winter Haven. 863-297-1100.

Northeast District: 1100 Dunson Road, Davenport. 863-236-3900

Northwest District: 1045 Wedgewood Estates Blvd., Lakeland. 863-577-1600

Southeast District: 4011 Sgt. Mary Campbell Way, Lake Wales. 863-534-6291.

Southwest District: 4120 U.S. 98 S., Lakeland. 863-499-2400

For Animal Control, call 863-499-2600.

The Web site is www.myspace.com/polkcountysheriffsoffice or www.polksheriff.org.