When Respect for Service Matters: Retired Officer Arrested After Threatening Volunteer Deputy
- Aaron Wilson
- 1 minute ago
- 1 min read
#VLEOA #VolunteerLawEnforcementOfficerAlliance #PoliceReserve #VolunteerDeputy #ReserveOfficer #PoliceVolunteers #PolkCounty #PolkCountyFL #PolkCountySheriffsOffice #SheriffGrady #GradyJudd #PCSO #ServeAndProtect #PublicSafety #LawEnforcement #ThreatToOfficer #RespectTheBadge #CommunitySafety
A retired law-enforcement officer faces charges after allegedly threatening a 75-year-old volunteer officer with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) while being issued a parking citation in Lakeland, Florida. Deputies say the volunteer service officer, a uniformed and clearly identified member of PCSO’s volunteer force, approached a vehicle parked illegally in a fire lane when 60-year-old Marcus Baker became confrontational, refusing initial requests and then resorting to threatening language after being cited. According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Baker yelled threats to harm the volunteer officer, follow him home and track him, then made intimidating maneuvers around the marked PCSO vehicle before leaving the scene. Baker was later arrested at his home and charged with threat to a public servant and assault on a law-enforcement officer, underscoring both the risks faced by volunteer officers and the importance of holding violators accountable regardless of their law-enforcement background.