News and Investigations

News & Investigations

News Releases and Public Information

Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.

PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.

The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.

Nov 21, 2025

Former East Polk County Association of Realtors CEO Jennifer Garula-Mers arrested for grand theft

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

A Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigation culminated in the arrest of the former CEO of The East Polk County Association of Realtors (EPCAR) on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Garula-Mers was terminated from her employment with EPCAR in August 2024.

Detectives issued a warrant for the arrest of 53-year-old Jennifer Garula-Mers of Spring Hill, Florida yesterday, November 20, 2025 for Grand Theft over $20,000 and less than $100,000, F.S.S. 812.014(2)(b)(1). She was taken into custody yesterday by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. She is being held on No Bond until First Appearance.

“Our investigation found that she made unauthorized raises and bonuses to herself, and non-business credit card charges that began within a few months after she was hired in 2020. Jennifer Garula-Mers’ is a thief and stole tens of thousands of dollars from the association. I urge all nonprofit associations to have effective checks and balances in place. ” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Garula-Mers was hired in 2020 with an annual salary of about $80,000. Four months later in November of 2020, she increased her own salary to about $85,000, and issued several bonus checks to herself.

By November of 2023, Garula-Mers raised her salary numerous times without authorization. Her final annual salary was $99,472—a total of $43,105.86 in unapproved increases and deposits.

Records showed additional unauthorized payroll checks totaling $20,348.89, improper reimbursements totaling $2,112.97, and unauthorized $12,500 in bonuses. These checks were issued and signed by Garula-Mers.

Many non-business transactions were also discovered. Garula-Mers used the EPCAR credit card for: dining, shopping, personal grooming, household goods, and orders on Amazon. These purchases totaled $3,267.51.

Garula-Mers changed EPCAR’s contribution rate to her individual retirement account, netting her an additional $7,938.27.

PCSO detectives found that EPCAR suffered a total loss of $81,453.92 as a result of Jennifer Garula-Mers’ fraudulent actions.

She will be brought from Hernando County to Polk County and will be charged with Grand Theft, $20,000 - $100,000 (F2).