Sgt. Toni Strickland 

Detective Sergeant Toni Strickland began her career with the Bartow Police Department in 1999 as one of Bartow Police Department’s first public safety aides. While working full-time as a Public Safety Aide, she completed police standards in 2001, and was sworn in as a patrol officer.

After working in patrol for a few years, Sgt. Strickland was assigned to Bartow High School as a School Resource Officer, spending several years in this capacity. In 2018 Sgt. Strickland was reassigned to the Investigations Section working as the Special Victim’s Detective. She was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in April 2022.

The Investigative Section provides the Bartow Police Department with professional and skilled detectives, and is under the direction of Sgt. Toni Strickland.

The Investigations Section includes five (5) detectives and a Sergeant. Detectives are responsible for follow-up on all felony crimes and narcotic investigations and includes the following:

• Crimes Against Persons
• Exploitation of the Elderly
• Rape
• Robbery
• Homicide
• Child Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Missing persons/runaways     
• Intelligence gathering & distribution
  • Gangs
  • Career Criminals

The Crime Scene Unit also operates under the Investigations Section. 

CRIME SCENE UNIT / PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE

The Crime Scene Unit responds to various crime scenes that require the collection and preservation of evidence. This Unit also processes evidence and transports evidence for more technical processing to the Florida Department Law Enforcement Crime Lab.

The Property and Evidence Section responsibilities:

• Receive all incoming property
• Store the evidence properly
•  Preserve its condition
• Maintain it securely
• Prevent tampering
• Lawfully release or disposal of the property
• Maintain written and computer documentation, that is sufficiently accurate and complete to satisfy any court which has reason to examine the process.

The ultimate goal for the Property/Evidence Unit is the appropriate disposition of property, whether in compliance with court order, through release to its rightful owner, or through other legal means such as destruction, diversion or donation. The Property/Evidence Unit researches the disposition of cases, then sends the appropriate form to the investigating officer and/or State Attorney for permission to dispose of property.

Certain items of evidence require additional security precautions because of its very nature. All property and evidence is maintained in the property room.

	Savannah Puls, Crime Scene Technician    Savannah has been a member of the Bartow Police Department since February 2020 as a Crime Scene Technician.  As a Crime Scene Technician, she is responsible for responding to crime scenes to collect evidence at the scene.  Currently working on her investigators Certification, Savannah also attends Keiser University where she is a full-time student. She intends to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Forensic Investigation in the fall of 2022.
Prior to working for the Bartow Police Department, Savannah was employed with the 10th district Medical Examiner's Office as a Morgue Technician.
	Kristina Gadd, Crime Scene Technician Kristina Gadd started her career at the Bartow Police Department in November 2020 in the Records Section. In February 2021, she was reassigned as an Evidence Custodian and Crime Scene Technician working in the Criminal Investigations Section. As the Evidence Custodian, Kristina is responsible for collecting, preserving, documenting, and preparing physical evidence when it arrives at the  police department from the crime scene.
Kristina has also been cross-trained to assist at crime scenes, gathering evidence when necessary.   Kristina is currently enrolled at Polk State College working toward a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. She plans to graduate in the fall of 2022. In addition to her college classes, she is also pursuing Investigators Certification through the International Association of Identification.

  To find out how to claim your property, please go to Property & Evidence.