Polk County Sheriff's Office

[CaribeCop]

Good Day everyone,

Wondering if anyone has any current insight on this agency? From what i understand, upon graduating from that academy you'll be Dual Certified and you have to do two years in corrections before trying to go to the road. Is it difficult to transfer to the road after your two years?

How is their academy? Length? Mon-Fri schedule i'm assuming, and i'm also assuming you take the leo state test first then the corrections ?

[LandGuppy]

Their academy is through Polk State College. They technically don't have their own. They have a lot of openings right now because the pay is so low and there are some morale issues, and you aren't guaranteed to get on the road after that two years. There are people who voluntarily pay back the money for the academy to get out of there and find another job, yet other people seem quite happy there.

[CaribeCop]

Thanks @LandGuppy, if their Academy is run through Polk State, how different is that than a state or county run academy.

Seems like a revolving door if people are willing to take the hit and just pay back the money.

[dme]

I have a friend who works there in the jail. He said they just lost 50+ to Tampa and are pulling a bunch of the CO to the road. According to Judd they are getting a huge raise soon.

The academy is tough, but not unbearable, according to my friend.

[LandGuppy]

The academy is tough but you go home at night and every weekend. You would go full time to both the LE and the corrections academy portion if sponsored.

[CaribeCop]

@dme ...I heard about the mass exodus recently....is your friend on the forum?

[CaribeCop]

The academy is tough but you go home at night and every weekend. You would go full time to both the LE and the corrections academy portion if sponsored.

Thanks for the info...I'm hoping to get the call for the fall academy. Good that i'm getting a little insight on what to expect. Thanks.

[dme]

@dme ...I heard about the mass exodus recently....is your friend on the forum?

Not that I know of.

[shotgunnar1]

Where I came from if you left prior to two years of service after being sponsored through the academy, you had to repay the academy, your salary, and benefit contributions!

[Delta_V]

Where I came from if you left prior to two years of service after being sponsored through the academy, you had to repay the academy, your salary, and benefit contributions!

Where might that be? Some agencies do require sponsored applicants to pay back academy tuition, and they get away with that because since the academies are run by the community colleges it's legal. They couldn't do it if they ran their own academy. No employer can require you to pay back salaries or benefits for work that you either actually performed or may perform in the future. It's simply not legal.

[LandGuppy]

I know for a fact PCSO tries to get you to pay back salary and tuition. Some have fought it and only had to pay back the academy tuition. Others decided not to and got stuck with a 20k tab to pay back.

[Delta_V]

I know for a fact PCSO tries to get you to pay back salary and tuition. Some have fought it and only had to pay back the academy tuition. Others decided not to and got stuck with a 20k tab to pay back.

There's a difference between getting a $20K tab and actually being able to get someone to enforce the collection of the so-called "debt." St. Pete used to do that years ago (don't know if they still do it), and everyone just ignored them. The city never actually tried pursuing debt collection or wage garnishment from the new employer, as they knew they'd lose. The majority of those payback requirements aren't enforceable. They're just another way an agency tries to scare an officer into not leaving. Ask a union rep or labor attorney.

[Officer_vanilla]

I just applied to this department without reading this first. If I apply for the Deputy Sheriffs position I might get put into Corrections? I already been through an academy and passed the state exam, does that make a difference?

[CaribeCop]

I just applied to this department without reading this first. If I apply for the Deputy Sheriffs position I might get put into Corrections? I already been through an academy and passed the state exam, does that make a difference?

No, I believe thats for sponsored recruits. I have a POC in HR if you need it.

[Officer_vanilla]

You can PM me if you like. I just mailed the initial packet.