Grady Judd (born March 10, 1954) is an American law enforcement officer and serves as the sheriff of Polk County, Florida since 2005. Recently, controversy has emerged over allegations that Polk County detectives under his supervision dismissed reports of child sexual abuse, failing to take the victims’ claims seriously. Reports suggest that detectives, rather than investigating these claims thoroughly, accused some victims of lying, leading to charges against juveniles for false reporting while their alleged abusers remained free. Following additional evidence and further testimonies, some of these abusers have since been convicted, and sentences for lying have been overturned. As of the latest information, no disciplinary actions have been taken against the detectives or Sheriff Judd in connection with these cases, raising questions about oversight and accountability within the department.[4]
Judd started working for the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) in 1972 as a dispatcher.[7] As the first employee under the age of 21 in the department, he was required to get his father to purchase his ammunition.[2] At the age of 27, he attained the rank of captain, supervising 44 employees, all of whom were older than he.[2] He was elected as the sheriff of Polk County in 2004, and re-elected in 2008, 2012, and 2016.[8] In the 2020 election campaign, Judd ran unopposed.[9][10] Judd served as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida and Florida Southern College.[3]
Judd served as president of the Florida Sheriffs Association (2013–2014)[3] and president of the Major County Sheriffs of America (2018–2019).[3] He is a commissioner on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission.[11] Judd served as an active member of the BartowRotary Club since 1994,[11] and was a member of the board of directors for the club from 1996 to 1999.
Judd gained publicity as a sheriff with his "tell it how it is" demeanor.[8] In 2006, after a traffic stop resulted in a deputy and his K-9 dog shot and killed, deputies shot and killed the suspect, shooting him 68 times. Asked by a reporter about the number of shots, Judd responded, "That's all the bullets we had, or we would have shot him more."[12]
In 2020, Judd was appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump to serve a three-year term on the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.[13]
While the Office of Sheriff in Polk County is non-partisan,[14] Judd frequently endorses Republican political candidates.[15] In a 2022 news conference, Judd referred to Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as the "greatest governor in the United States of America."[16]
Elections
2004
Judd was elected Sheriff of Polk County in his first run for public office. Judd received 64% of the vote in a three-way non-partisan race against attorney and former FBI Special Agent Kirk Warren (20%) and Polk deputy Pete Karashay (16%).[17]
Judd was preceded in office by Lawrence W. Crow, Jr. who served 17 years as sheriff and declined to run in 2004. Crow was appointed by Governor Bob Martinez in 1987 and served until Judd was sworn into office.[18]
2008
Judd was re-elected by defeating write-in candidate Michael Lashman.[19] Judd received 96% of the vote; Lashman received just under 4%.[20]
2012
Judd again faced write-in candidate Michael Lashman, a flooring contractor from Lakeland, in his third campaign for sheriff. Judd again won with 96% of the vote, with 215,320 votes.[21]
2016
Judd ran for a fourth term of office in 2016 and was elected with 95.3% of the vote compared to 4.7% for write-in ballots.[22]
2020
Judd ran for a fifth term of office in 2020 and was reelected unopposed, making Judd the first sheriff in Polk’s 160-year history to be elected to five terms.[23]
Professional affiliations
Sheriff Judd was elected President of the Florida Sheriffs Association in 2013.[24] Prior to that, he served as chair for the FSA board of directors and held the positions of treasurer, secretary, and vice president. In 2018, Judd was sworn in as President of the Major County Sheriffs of America for a two-year term, and is now a member of the executive board as immediate past president.[25] In 2019, Judd was appointed by the National Sheriffs' Association to serve on the School Safety and Security Committee.[26]
Career highlights
Operation Swipe Left for Meth
Judd was featured on The News with Shepard Smith[27] where he detailed a six-month undercover drug investigation that identified 68 people who conducted drug sales on three social media and mobile dating apps: Grindr, Scruff, and Taimi. At the time the segment aired (January 27, 2022), 60 people were arrested; the other eight were wanted on Polk County Sheriff's Office arrest warrants.
50 Years of Service
Judd was featured in a PoliceOne article, America's favorite sheriff talks about cops, criminals and his 50-year career[28] where he shared about serving the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the citizens of Polk County during his career spanning 50 years.
Awards
Judd was the first recipient of the inaugural "Sandra S. Hutchens Sheriff of the Year" award, presented by the Major County Sheriffs of America in February 2022 at the MCSA 2022 Winter Conference.[29]
Judd was awarded the "2022 Faith Based Patriot of the Year" award by The Faith Based Republican Club of West Polk County, on June 1, 2023, during their "Defend Freedom Night" program.[30]
References
^Edwards, Amy L. (January 6, 2005). "Seasoned Cop Takes Over". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
