Polk County Commissioners to Investigate Accusations of Wrongdoing by Polk County Police Posted By: Staff Reportson: May 16, 2017In: Polk News, Top Local News Print Email Polk County Commissioners voted to request an outside investigation following accusations made by Sheriff Johnny Moats of wrongdoing by the Polk County Police Department. Moats said that he could have conducted the investigation himself, rather than call the GBI. County Attorney Brad McFall will be leading an internal effort to address the allegations. McFall said that all of the members of the Polk County Police Department will be interviewd in the process. He added that he should have a report for the commission by the next weekend on June 6th. Previous: Issues in Polk County have started to brew with law enforcement officials and County Commissioners. Sheriff Jonny Moats pinned a letter to commissions stating that actions that the board has not taken has resulted in a situation that “is ready to explode” and compared it to a “pressure cooker”. Here is the letter written by Sheriff Moats. “There have been a lot of rumors and speculation being circulated about the Polk County Sheriff’s Ofice and the Polk County Police Department. I want to address these issues to clarify what I understand is driving these rumors. Fist of all, I have no desire to “take over” the county police. There has been a lot of rumor to the contrary, so I want to make clear that has not been MY objective. My objective is to serve the citizens of Polk County to the best of my ability. The citizens call me because they know I’ll respond. The majority of telephone calls that I receive are citizens complaining about the county police because, sixty (60) years after its creation citizens still don’t understand that the county police doesn’t answer to the sheriff. Originally I was telling them to call Chief Dodd but they claimed he didn’t answer and didn’t return their call. Then I was instructed to have them call Commissioner Tillery and Matt Denton. The Board has a major problem within the county police that you have chosen to ignore and because of your inaction to remedy the problem it has become a pressure cooker that is about to explode. I have been contacted by eighteen (18) police officers currently employed by the county police asking me to help them get out of purgatory that they feel they are in, again because of your denial of the problem. Their complaints coexist of the following: favoritism in assignment and promotion, criminal activity and cover-ups involving administration personnel, failure to supervise, failure to direct, retaliation, lying, gossiping and officer safety due to lack of coverage and support in the patrol division. It is my obligation as the chief law enforcement officer of the county to officially notify you of these issues. After speaking with these officers, who I will not identity to protect them from retaliation I believe that if you do not act swiftly and decisively to fix the problems they will all quit and the county police will be unable to fulfill its obligations. I have been told by some of them that it will happen by the end of May. I am not the enemy, I am the Sheriff and I want to help any way I can, if you will let me. While the Polk County Board of Commissioners and the Polk County Police have an obligation to protect the citizens of Polk County, I being the Sheriff have a constitutional duty to protect the citizens of Polk County. I will do what needs to be done even if you don’t. Sincerely, Sheriff Johnny Moats