Police Department

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Deputy Chief Stephen Walker

Stephen Walker was promoted from Captain to Deputy Chief of the Bartow Police Department DC Stephen Walker copy 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.

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.