POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S PHONE# 863-298-6200IF IN AN EMERGENCY DIAL 911 ABOUT NEWS & INVESTIGATIONS DETENTION PROGRAMS & SERVICES ANIMAL SERVICES EXECUTIVE STAFF PCSO Executive Staff Meet Our Commanders The Polk County Sheriff's Office is comprised of three main departments - the Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Detention, and the Office of Business Affairs. The Executive Staff includes the second-in-command, Chief of Staff Steve Lester, the two Chiefs over Law Enforcement and Detention, and the civilian Executive Director over the Office of Business Affairs. STEVE LESTER Chief of Staff Chief of Staff Steve Lester reports directly to the Sheriff and is second in command of the agency. Chief Lester acts as Sheriff in all regards during the Sheriff's absence. All components under the Office of the Sheriff are under Chief Lester's command, which : The Office of Communications, The Office of Legal Affairs, The Office of Professional Compliance, and the Administrative Investigations Section. Chief Lester has Associates of Arts and Science degrees from Polk Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida, and a Master’s degree from Troy University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), the National Institute of Corrections Executive Excellence Program, the Florida State University’s Certified Public Manager Program, and Leadership Polk. He is a member of several organizations, including the American Jail Association, Polk County Police Chiefs’ Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Anti-Drug Abuse Council, and the Polk Community College Training Advisory Committee. He is on the Polk State College Foundation Board of Directors and the recipient of the 2018 Polk State College Distinguished Alumni Award. LARRY WILLIAMS Chief of Law Enforcement Chief Larry Williams, Jr., commands the Department of Law Enforcement. The men and women of law enforcement are responsible for answering emergency and non-emergency calls for service, proactively patrolling the over 2,000 square miles of the county, investigating crimes, apprehending criminals, and working hand-in-hand with the community to keep Polk County safe. Chief Williams has an Associate of Arts degree from Polk Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Warner Southern University, and a Master’s degree from Troy University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Southern Police Institute 114th Administrative Officers Course, the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), and the Florida State University’s Certified Public Manager Program. He is a member of several organizations, including the Polk County Police Chiefs’ Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Lakeland North Rotary Club. MICHAEL ALLEN Chief of Detention Chief Michael Allen commands the Department of Detention, which includes two detention facilities, the booking facility, county and statewide inmate transportation, courtroom security, court process service, and several inmate work programs. Chief Allen has an Associate of Arts degree from Polk Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida, and a Master’s degree from Troy University. He is a graduate of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Senior Leadership Program, the National Institute of Corrections Executive Excellence Program, the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), and the Florida State University’s Certified Public Manager Program. He is a certified jail inspector for the Florida Sheriffs Association, a board member on the FDLE Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, and a member of the American Jail Association, and Bartow Kiwanis. ANDRIA MCDONALD Executive Director of Business Affairs Executive Director Andria McDonald commands the Office of Business Affairs, which is comprised mainly of the hundreds of civilian members who work behind the scenes supporting law enforcement and detention. Ms. McDonald has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master’s degree from the University of South Florida. She is a certified public accountant and a certified government finance officer. She graduated from the Florida State University’s Certified Public Manager program, and is a member of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association, Florida Institute of Public Accountants, and the American Institute of Public Accounts. 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