The Polk County Sheriff's Office is proud to join the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Polk County Lodge #46 and the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial Fund (PCLEMF), Inc., at the 38th Annual Polk County Peace Officers' Memorial Service at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial in Lakeland Veterans Park (located off of Lake Beulah Drive, west of the RP Funding Center).
 
Family members of fallen officers, representatives from various Polk County law enforcement agencies, public service organizations, and state and local government agencies will be attending. The public is also invited to attend.
 
A total of 37 Law Enforcement and Corrections officers who made the “supreme sacrifice and died in the line of duty” while serving the citizens of Polk County with various State, County and Local law enforcement and corrections agencies will be honored during the Memorial Service “Roll Call of Heroes.”
 
During this year's ceremony, two names will be added on behalf of the Winter Haven Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, and Tobacco, for line of duty deaths that occurred in 1958 and 1987, respectively. 

Highlights of the service will include: Joint Agency Officer Processional March; Presentation of Colors by a Joint Agency Color Guard; Roll Call of Heroes; Helicopter Fly Over; Retreat of the Fallen Rider by the PCSO Mounted Unit; Bagpipe players; 3 Gun Volley; and Taps.
 
Immediately following the service, the Polk County Fraternal Order of Police and the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial Board of Directors will host a complimentary catered formal luncheon at the Lake Mirror Auditorium located at 121 South Lake Avenue, Lakeland. Sheriff Judd and several elected officials will be in attendance and available for photos in front of professional backdrops; commemorative coins will be also distributed. All are welcome.
 
For more information, please call Ricky Newman, Chairman PCLEMF, Inc., at 863-662-2280 or rnewman@polkfop.org.