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Police Fire Protection

Police & Fire Protection

The County’s 911 system answers all emergency phone calls from its centers throughout Polk County and immediately forwards the calls to the appropriate agency.

Bartow Police & Fire Departments – Remember to call 9-1-1, for an emergency.

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BARTOW POLICE DEPARTMENT

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BARTOW FIRE DEPARTMENT

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Interim Chief of Police

Stephen Walker

 

Deputy Chief Stephen Walker

Stephen Walker was promoted from Captain to Deputy Chief of the Bartow Police Department by then Police Chief Andy Ray on Dec. 1, 2023. He has served as the acting head of the department since Ray’s retirement on April 5, 2024.

Before joining the Bartow Police Department in 2022 as the Law Enforcement Division Commander, DC Walker served for 30 years with the Lakeland Police Department. He retired as a Captain in charge of Lakeland’s Special Operations Division in 2020.  Prior to that, he served as an Emergency Medical Technician with Polk County EMS for five years.

DC Walker has a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Troy University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from Saint Leo University, and is a Certified Public Manager.  Additionally, he is a graduate of the 124th Session of the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville and the 56th Session of the Senior Management Institute for Police. DC Walker also is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Florida Executive Development Seminar.

new tradition of service badge

Bartow Police Dept. Mission:

The Bartow Police Department will provide a professional service in an effort to prevent crime, reduce fear, and enforce the law.

Vision Statement:

To provide a peaceful and safe community where citizens and visitors experience hometown values as well as a superior quality of life .

Benevolent

To meet the needs of the citizens of Bartow in a compassionate and efficient manner.

Professional

To provide law enforcement services through education and enforcement in a manner consistent with our goals and objectives, emphasizing strong ethical and moral values.

Dedication

To provide continuous, loyal, and unwavering allegiance to its citizens.

HISTORY OF BARTOW POLICE DEPARTMENT

Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. (CFA)

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART & DEPARTMENT SECTIONS

PATROL SECTION

RECRUITING / EMPLOYMENT

COMMUNITY SERVICES TEAM –  CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS

BUSINESS POLICE ACADEMY – Click here for more information

 OTHER HELPFUL PAGES

Social Media

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Bartow Fire Department
Career Personnel

Jay Robinson, Fire Chief – Serving Since 1989
Byron Moore, Deputy Chief {Prevention} – Serving Since 1996

Shift 1

 Lieutenant/EMT

Vacant

O.I.C. Fire Driver/EMT

Ben Frankenburger

 Serving since 2002

 Fire Driver/EMT

Mike Hancock

 Serving since1998

Fire Driver/EMT

Morgan Clyatt

Serving since 2016

Fire Driver/EMT

Trenton New

 Serving since 2016

Fire Driver/EMT

Hunter Orcasitas

 Serving since 2019

Shift 2

 Lieutenant/EMT

Jimmy Schaill

Serving Since 1998

 O.I.C. Fire Driver/EMT

Jeff Burnett

 Serving since 2005

 Fire Driver/EMT

Brian Bennett

 Serving since 2002

 Fire Driver/EMT

Justin Jones

 Serving since 2004

 Fire Driver/EMT

Casandra Looney

 Serving since 2017

    Fire Driver/EMT

Shane Evans

Serving since 2017

Shift 3

Lieutenant/EMT

Dillon Swager

Serving since 2012

O.I.C. Fire Driver/EMT

 Kenny Miles

 Serving since 2002

Fire Driver/EMT

Robert Miller Serving Since 1998

 Fire Driver/EMT

 Matt Murphy

 Serving since 2010

Fire Driver/EMT

Brandon Peeler

 Serving since 2018

Fire Driver/EMT

Ralph Meeks

 Serving since 2018

Police Protection

On July 1, 1882, when the citizens saw a need for better legal protection, C.C. Gresham was elected the first town Marshal and the town of Bartow was incorporated. The Bartow Police Department has evolved over 130 years from a one man, 15-hour-a-day department into a modern agency with a staff of 41 sworn and 23 non-sworn personnel who provide Law Enforcement services to the citizens of Bartow.

Fire Protection

The Bartow Fire Department consists of 20 personnel who have received extensive firefighting, rescue and emergency medical training. The fire department is responsible for 90 sq. miles. Response time within the city is five minutes, nine minutes outside the city. The Department also works with the County’s Fire Services answering fire rescue calls in the unincorporated areas of the County.