Polk County Sheriff’s Phone# 863-298-6200
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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.
May 6, 2025
Polk County Sheriff's Office welcomes new Public Information Officer Juliana Rivera
Media Contact: Juliana Rivera, PIO
The Polk County Sheriff’s office is pleased to announce the addition of Juliana Rivera to our team as a Public Information Officer. She brings a fresh enthusiasm and is committed to fostering transparent communication between the agency and the community.
Juliana is a Lakeland native and is a recent graduate from the University of South Florida where she got her Bachelor’s degree in Integrated Public Relations and Advertising. She is equipped with the skills necessary to navigate modern communication channels and ensure the community remains informed through traditional and social media platforms. Juliana is fluent in English and Spanish. Her previous work experience includes working part- time at Publix, and in the restaurant industry in hospitality.
“Juliana comes to us with an impressive resume and a reputation as a very hard worker. She has already proven her commitment to excellent customer service and enhancing our communications strategies. We’re very excited to have her on board!” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
“I am honored to begin working with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office,” said Juliana. “My goal is to ensure that the public has access to accurate, timely information and feels a true connection to the agency. Open communication builds trust, and I am excited to play a role in making that happen.”
She can be reached at jrivera@polksheriff.org, (863) 298- 6631, or via the PIO On-Call cellphone (863) 370 - 0040.