The City of Winter Haven Public Safety Department is accepting applications from residents aged 18 and older to join the 2026 Public Safety Leadership Council.
The council will include approximately 20 volunteer members. Meetings are scheduled every other Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., starting in January 2026 and continuing until mid-May 2026, for a total of ten sessions.
Participants will meet with Assistant City Manager of Public Safety Charlie Bird, Police Chief Vance Monroe, Fire Chief Drew Neubrand, Safe Neighborhoods Director Tanya Ayers, and other public safety staff. Activities include hands-on exercises, department operations feedback, tours of the Polk County Jail book-in facility, Central County Jail, and Courthouse, time at the Sheriff’s Emergency Communications Center, and ride-alongs with police and fire personnel.
All applicants must undergo a background check.
Applications are available by calling 863-291-6178, visiting www.WinterHavenPD.com and selecting the Community Services link, or emailing jbrown@mywinterhaven.com. The deadline for submission is January 5, 2026. Selected participants will be notified by January 9, 2026. A list of meeting dates will accompany the application.
For additional details, contact Jamie Brown at 863-291-6178 or jbrown@mywinterhaven.com.
The program is separate from the city’s Public Safety Community Advisory Committee.
Source: City of Winter Haven
