Lakeland Police Department

*****UPDATE***** Around 10:45 p.m. Julius Cabbagestalk was located safe!  Thank you to everyone who assisted in getting his information out and was looking for him!   ***ORIGINAL POST*** LAKELAND, FL (March 13, 2025) - The Lakeand Police Department has received a report of a missing child, 10-year-old Julius Cabbagestalk.  Julius was last seen near his home in the 1800 bloc ...

LAKELAND, FL (March 8, 2025) - The Lakeland Police Department will host a career fair for those interested in an exciting and purpose-driven career in either law enforcement or a civilian career as a Public Safety Aide or in our 911 Emergency Communications Center. The event will take place Tuesday, March 11, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Lak ...

    Lakeland, FL – (March 6, 2025) – The Lakeland Police Department will begin accepting applications for the position of Police Officer starting Monday, March 10, 2025. This recruitment drive is open to candidates who possess the necessary Florida Law Enforcement Officer certification and aims to fill positions with dedicated indiv ...

LAKELAND, FL (February 24, 2025) - On February 24, 2025, Officer Huascar Evangelista Vargas resigned from his position after being arrested for a retail petit theft which occurred on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. Had Vargas not resigned, he would have been terminated. On February 19, 2025, shortly before 6:00 p.m., the Winter Haven Police Department was called to a shoplifting ...

(LAKELAND, FL) February 20, 2025 - The Lakeland Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2025 Citizens Police Academy. Classes meet every Thursday night from 6:30PM - 9:30PM for twelve (13) weeks with 15 classes, beginning on August 7, 2025, and concluding October 30, 2025. The deadline to apply is July 18, 2025.   Apply here: https://www.lakelandgov.net/depa ...

Lakeland, FL - (February 19, 2025) - This summer, the Lakeland Police Department is proud to partner with the Polk County School Board and the Polk County Sheriff's Office to offer a FREE camp with industry professionals to teach skills needed in vocational job markets. Students will have hands-on sessions to learn more about: CARPENTRY ELECTRICAL PLUMBING ROOFING DRYWAL ...

LAKELAND, FL (February 18, 2025) - On Monday, February 17, 2025, at approximately 9:09 p.m., officers responded to a crash involving a pedestrian near the 3300 block of US Highway 98 North. Based on witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene, prior to the crash, a pedestrian was attempting to cross US Highway 98 North in a westerly direction, not in a marked crosswal ...

LAKELAND, FL (February 11, 2025) – Media are invited to a press conference announcing progress related to the investigation into a December 2020 shooting that left at least three Lakeland residents wounded and one deceased. On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at the Lakeland Police Department, senior officials from the Lakeland Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearm ...

LAKELAND, FL (January 27, 2025) – The Lakeland Police Department has received a report of a missing child, 6-year-old Empress Moore. Empress initially ran away from her home in the 800 block of North New York Avenue in Lakeland around 8:30 p.m. on January 26, 2025. The Lakeland Police Department was called at that time by her mother and a search was conducted. Patrol officers l ...

LAKELAND, FL (January 15, 2025) - On January 15, 2025, traffic crash investigators with the Lakeland Police Department arrested Daniel Kovacs in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash which occurred on November 23, 2024, in the 700 block of South Florida Avenue. Kovacs was arrested at his home around 1:45 p.m. During the post-crash investigation it was determined the suspec ...