Chief Poling began his law enforcement career with the Belle Glade Police Department in 1994. He went on to serve with the Culpeper, Virginia Police Department and the Federal Air Marshal Service. Chief Poling joined the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in 1997 as a Road Patrol Deputy where he served for 2 years before transferring to the Vice and Narcotics Bureau as a Corporal. In Vice and Narcotics, he performed street level narcotics buys, worked prostitution, trafficking narcotics and Title III wiretap intercept investigations. In 2006, Chief Poling was promoted to Sergeant; supervising Vice and Narcotics Bureau detectives, Interdiction K9 handlers, and Tech Section deputies who conduct specialized operations. In 2013, Chief Poling was promoted to Lieutenant of the Vice and Narcotics Bureau which included the Interdiction Section, K9 Section, Tech Section and Narcotics Sections. In 2020, he was promoted to Captain of the Criminal Investigations Division, where he oversaw the daily operation and function. In 2023, Chief Poling was promoted to Chief of the Investigations Department, where he oversees the daily operation and function. 

Chief Poling holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration; he is a graduate of the DEA Drug Unit Commander’s Academy at Quantico, he graduated from the Institute of Police Technology and Management Drug Unit Commander course, the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Leadership Academy, the Florida Sheriff’s Institute Commander’s Academy and Leadership Collier. Chief Poling has acquired specialized training in Advanced Narcotics Investigations; he was a Narcotics and Explosive Detection K9 Handler, a former member of the Specialized Weapons and Tactics Team, and an Assessor for the Commission of Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. 

Chief Poling has received numerous awards and recognitions during his tenure; to include State Attorney Amira D. Fox 20th Judicial Circuit Law Enforcement Exemplary Service Award, Meritorious Service Medal, multiple Command Recognitions, Unit Citations and Teamwork Awards.