Deputy Chief Stephen Walker

Stephen Walker began his career with the Lakeland Police Department in 1990 as a patrol officer. In 1992, he was assigned to the School Resource Unit/Juvenile Division of the Criminal Investigations Section. In 1994 he joined the SWAT Team and functioned as the Team Medic and Entry Team member. In 1995, Captain Walker was promoted to Sergeant, serving in the Patrol Division. In 2002, he was assigned as the Sergeant of Street Crimes and in 2002 was promoted to Lieutenant.

As Lieutenant, Walker served as the Officer in Charge of the Patrol Division from 2003-2005, commanded the General Services Section from 2005-2008, led the Special Operations Section from 2009-2012, supervised the Neighborhood Liaison Section from 2012-2013 and the Office of Professional Standards/Internal Affairs from 2013-2014. Promoted to Captain, he served as the Commanding Officer of the Support Services and Special Services Bureau from 2014-2017, the Commanding Officer of the Patrol Division 2017-219 and the Commanding Officer of the Special Operations Division in the Support Services Bureau from 2019 until his retirement in 2020.

After 2-years of retirement, DC Walker missed serving the community and began his career with the Bartow Police Department in 2022 as the Law Enforcement Commander.

DC Walker holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Criminology,  and a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice.  DC Walker is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute's 124th Administrative Officers Course, The Certified Public Manager's Program, the 56th Senior Management Institute for Police through the Police Executive Research Forum in Boston, MA, and the FBI's Florida Executive Development Seminar (FEDS). Additionally, Capt. Walker is highly trained in Emergency Management and is certified, by the Florida Division of Emergency Management as a Type III Planning Section Chief.

In December of 2023 he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police.

 Captain William Stevens, Investigations Commander

 Captain William Stevens began his career with the Bartow Police Department in 2007. Prior to the Bartow Police Department, Captain Stevens served in the United States Army Military Police Corp. where he completed his enlistment as a Staff Sergeant after serving 9  years. 

Before coming to Bartow, Captain Stevens worked for the Department of Defense Police in the southern Mojave Desert for a short time.

In 2007 Captain Stevens made the move to Bartow working for the Bartow Police Department. He was initially assigned to the patrol section for several years as a Field Training Officer, Certified Instructor, and a member of the Entry Team. 

In 2015 Captain Stevens was assigned to the Investigations Section where he worked as a Detective investigating felony cases. Then in 2017 he was promoted to Sergeant and he assumed supervisory responsibilities of a patrol squad, and later supervised the Criminal Investigation Division. In March 2022, Captain Stevens was promoted to Captain and currently serves the citizens of Bartow as the Investigations Commander.

Captain Stevens is a graduate of the FBI LEEDA, and the National Public Safety Institute Innovation Academy. Captain Stevens was awarded runner-up Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2011.