News and Investigations

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Executive Staff members of the Polk County Sheriff's Office will recognize law enforcement, detention, civilian, and volunteer members of the agency on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at Lake Eva Event Center in Haines City, at the "2023 PCSO Annual Awards Ceremony." On hand to help recognize these members will be county elected officials and administrators, and other special dignitaries. 
 
Each year, PCSO holds an awards ceremony naming the Deputy Sheriff, Detention Deputy, Civilian, Reserve Deputy Sheriff, and Volunteer of the Year. In addition to these awards, Sheriff Judd will award the Medal of Honor, Medals of Valor, Life-Saving Medals, the Marshall Anderson Award, and Meritorious Service Medals to those members who went above and beyond the call of duty during 2022.

The Sheriff's Citation will also be posthumously awarded to Deputy Sheriff Blane Lane, who was killed in the line of duty on October 4, 2022. His family will accept the award on his behalf.   

The media is invited to attend this event. Some award recipients and nominees may be undercover - the PIOs will be on-hand to assist you in identifying those members who cannot be photographed or videotaped. Please contact us for assistance.