Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons, along with Captain Larry Dawson and Detective Jessi Stanton, addressed the Polk County Branch of the American Association of University Women Monday. “Everything around us has changed. Everything is evolving. It’s not all good, but it’s evolving nonetheless. Our population is growing and everything has to accommodate that,” Lyons said. Of the many things to be careful about, he said the main one is to not give personal information out over the phone. He said the sheriff’s office received 21,665 call reports and 41,302 calls for service during the month of October. “These numbers are growing. I’m telling you this not to scare you, but to make you aware.” Lyons said that when he first started there were maybe one or two homicides a year, whereas now there are probably seven to 10 a year. As for drugs, he said that fentanyl is a very real problem in Polk County. “It’s a very real issue and one time can result in death.” PHOTO BY EMILY BANKS WOOTEN
