LPD Online News

Lakeland Police Announce Peace Officer Memorial

The Twenty-First Annual Peace Officer's Memorial Service will be held on May 8, 2008, at 10:00 A.M., at the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial site located in the City of Lakeland Bicentennial Park on Lake Beulah Drive, adjacent to the Lakeland Center located at 701 West Lime Street, Lakeland, Florida.

The public is invited to attend.

All media inquiries regarding this event should be directed to Jack Gillen, Public Information Officer, at 863.981.0196. Click here for map to Lakeland Bicentennial Park.pdf

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Arrest City Employee for Grand Theft

The Lakeland Police Department today arrested Robert A. Hudson, (W/M, DOB: 12/13/56), 4815 Sand Mountain Road, Auburndale, Florida, on the following charges in connection with the theft of City of Lakeland property: Dealing in Stolen Property (F2), Grand Theft (F3), Scheming to Defraud (F3).

Mr. Hudson is a supervisor at the City of Lakeland Wastewater Plant and all of these thefts involved scrap metal taken on more than one occasion from the wastewater facility located on 1825 Glendale Street in Lakeland. Mr. Hudson has been employed by the City of Lakeland since June 3, 1986. His salary is $58,718 per year.

All media inquiries regarding this event should be directed to Jack Gillen, Public Information Officer, at 863.981.0196.View Media Release.pdf

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Dive Team Searches for Firearm

The Lakeland Police Department Dive Team will be conducting an operation on Thursday, April 17, 2008, at Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland beginning at 9:00 am.  The target location is next to Fire Station #1 and directly behind the Lakeland Fire Department Administration Building.

The Dive Team will be utilizing the dredge and the magnet for this operation to recover a firearm (click here to read entire media release).pdf

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Home Invaders Arrested in Georgia

An arrest has been made in Douglas County, Georgia, of two suspects believed to be responsible for the home invasion that occurred in Lakeland, Florida, on April 2, 2008.  The suspects were arrested after committing a crime in Georgia using methods similar to the ones used in the Lakeland home invasion.

Read the complete media release.pdf

All media inquires should be directed to Sergeant Terri Smith 863.834.6917.

Lakeland School Resource Officers Plan Activities in Honor of National DARE Day on April 10, 2008

Each year, one day is declared National DARE Day by the President of the United States.  This day is to celebrate the lessons of DARE and to recognize the DARE officers who provide the knowledge to our youth so they can make wise decisions in the future.  This year, President Bush has declared National DARE Day as Thursday, April 10, 2008.

                                               Read the Complete Media Release.pdf

                                              Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Announce Victims' Rights Week

The Lakeland Police Department would like to announce National Victims’ Rights Week, scheduled from April 13^th – April 19^th , 2008.  National Victims’ Rights Week was proclaimed by City of LakelandMayor Ralph L. Fletcher on April 7^th, 2008.  This time was set aside to express appreciation for those victims and crime survivors who have turned personal tragedy into a motivating force to improve our response to victims of crime and build a more just community.

Crime can happen to anyone – anywhere.  An estimated 23 million Americans become victims of crime each year.  They need our nation to honor their rights, protect their safety, and help them rebuild their lives. 

To find out how you can help victims, contact the Lakeland Police Department Victim Assistance Program at 863.834.6903, or visit www.LakelandGov.net.

Lakeland Police K-9 Unit Win Top Team Honors in Regional Trials

                                                                                                                      From Left to Right:  Ryan Back (K-9 Remy), Ted Sealey (K-9 Bodo), Rob Manrow (K-9 Bask), Charlie Dallas, (K-9 Dynx) and Jeff Barrett (K-9 Beno)

The Lakeland Police K-9 Unit won top 4-Man team honors once again in the USPCA Region One Trials held this week in Pensacola, Florida.  This is the third year in a row the LPD K-9 Unit has claimed the top 4-Man team award.  This year the team competed with over 50 other teams to win this award!

Read the complete media release for more details.pdf

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Reaccredited by CALEA

The

Lakeland

Police Department was awarded reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) on March 15, 2008. This is the fourth time the Lakeland Police Department has received accreditation from CALEA following the first accreditation awarded in 1994. 

Law enforcement accreditation is a voluntary process used by agencies to demonstrate their compliance with a set of over 400 standards recognized as best practices in management and service delivery. The accreditation process occurs every three years with assessors evaluating the department to ensure that the standards were followed for each three year period. The onsite inspection was completed in December, 2007.  The Commission met in March, 2008, and voted to award reaccreditation to the Lakeland Police Department.

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Looking for Bank Robber

The Lakeland Police Department is seeking information regarding the identity of the suspect of a bank robbery that occurred in Lakeland on Thursday, March 28, 2008.

Around 4:40 PM, a Hispanic male entered the Colonial Bank, located at 3115 South Road 98 in Lakeland, Florida, and passed a note to a teller demanding money.  The suspect then fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.  The suspect was observed by witnesses getting into a white car with dark tinted windows, possibly a 1980's model Acura.  The car also had a wide, dark stripe along the bottom.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 5'07" to 5'08" and 150 to 160 lbs.  At the time of the robbery, the suspect had black, curly hair that was shoulder length.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Detective Jim O'Neil at 863-834-6968.

Media inquiries should be directed to Jack Gillen, Public Information Officer, 863-834-6949. 

This case has also been submitted to Crime Stoppers, 1-800-226-TIPS.

Click Here to Enlarge Photograph.pdf

Sergeant Terri Smith

UPDATE - Lakeland Police Continue to Search for Home Invasion Suspects

Lakeland Police continue to search for the two suspects that overpowered at knife point, tied up, and robbed a local realtor when the two were found inside a residence by the realtor.  The slide to the right is taken from a surveillance photograph where one of the suspect's images was capured by a security camera at a Best Buy in north Lakeland using the victim's credit card to purchase items.  These photographs were taken the same day the incident occurred.

Anyone who believes they may identify this suspect are asked to contact the Lakeland Police Department.  Please see the media releases below for additional information.

Click here to see enlarged photographs.pdf

Sergeant Terri Smith