
Polk State Criminal Justice Teach-In Is April 22; Topics Include Social Media, Active Shooters

Polk State College will host its third-annual Criminal Justice Teach-In at its state-of-the art Center for Public Safety on April 22. “This daylong event gives students and the public a glance at the real-world life…

Community Celebrates Opening of Center for Public Safety

The ribbon has been cut and the Polk State Center for Public Safety is officially open for business. Polk State celebrated the grand opening of the state-of-the-art, 101,450-square-foot facility with a ceremony on Friday,…

Five Questions with Chasity Branham: How Putting Public Safety Cadets on the Stand Prepares Them for the Future

As Polk State Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety cadets near the end of their training, they have their day in court. There is no subpoena. The cases are completely fictional. But the setting,…

Polk State’s Shea Nationally Recognized for Improvements to Online Criminal Justice Courses

Polk State Criminal Justice Program Director Sgt. Christen Shea has received national recognition for her efforts to improve the online learning experience for students. Shea, a sergeant with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, received the…

Since Earning Bachelor’s Degree from Polk State, Polk County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tracy Smith an Advocate for Education

Tracy Smith had worked for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for nearly two decades, doing the things he loves most: solving crimes and helping people. But he realized that if he was ever going to…

Polk State Breaks Ground on Center for Public Safety

The ground has been broken and Polk State’s Center for Public Safety is officially underway. Polk State hosted the groundbreaking event for the new location Thursday morning. More than 300 local and state officials, alumni,…

Polk’s Mock Courtroom Exercise Readies Students for Future Testimony; Hailed by State Attorney

Chris Dudley had never been in a courtroom before last Tuesday night, when he entered the Polk County Courthouse, took the stand, and was cross-examined on an arrest report he’d written as part of his…

Polk State Public Safety Institute Receives Sheriff’s Commendation

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd issued a special commendation on Monday to Polk State College for the performance of its public safety training institute, which recently became the first of its kind to receive Accreditation…

Polk State’s Shea Receives Sheriff’s Office Service Medal

Polk State’s Criminal Justice Program Director Sgt. Christen Shea has received the Meritorious Service Medal from Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd for her work to expand the College’s Criminal Justice degree programs. The Meritorious Service…

Polk State Trustees Approve Furr & Wegman as Design Firm for Center for Public Safety

Polk State College’s District Board of Trustees on Monday unanimously approved Lakeland-based Furr & Wegman Architects, P.A., as the design firm for its Center for Public Safety. The selection continues a partnership between the firm…