Grady Judd

Grady Curtis Judd Jr. was born in Lakeland, Florida, to Grady Judd Sr. (1931-2020) and Martha Judd (1927-2005).{{cite web|last=Kelly|first=Donna|url=http://the863magazine.com/previous-issues-of-the-863-magazine/january-2014/polk-county-sheriff-grady-judd-the-man-behind-the-badge-by-donna-kelly/|title=Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd: The Man Behind the Badge by Donna Kelly|date=January 2014|access-date=June 11, 2025}}{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.com/documentaries/q-sheriff-grady-judd-polk-county-florida|title=Q & A with Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County Florida|date=6 June 2015 |publisher=MSNBC}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/i-miss-him-so-much-father-of-sheriff-grady-judd-passes-away|title='I miss him so much': Father of Sheriff Grady Judd passes away|work=Fox13News.com|publisher=WTVT|date=February 26, 2020|access-date=May 22, 2025}} He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from Rollins College, and graduated from the FBI National Academy. He was awarded two honorary doctorates. Webber International University presented Judd with an honorary Doctorate of Business in 2015, and Warner University presented him with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Studies in 2020.{{Cite web|last=White|first=Gary|title=Warner petition for graduation ceremony draws support|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2020/05/13/warner-petition-for-graduation-ceremony-draws-support/112579864/|access-date=2020-08-13|website=The Ledger|language=en-US}}

He married Marisa Ogburn in 1972, three months after graduating high school. They have 2 sons, Graham and Trae, and 13 grandchildren.{{cite web|url=https://www.polksheriff.org/about/sheriff-grady-judd|title=About Sheriff Grady Judd|access-date=June 11, 2025}} A grandson, Graham Cleveland Judd Jr., died at birth in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/theledger/name/graham-judd-obituary?id=19402088|title=GRAHAM CLEVELAND JUDD JR.|website=Legacy.com |access-date=June 11, 2025}}

Judd started working for the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) in 1972 as a dispatcher.{{Cite web|title=Sheriff Grady Judd {{!}} Polk County Sheriff's Office|url=https://www.polksheriff.org/about/sheriff-grady-judd|access-date=2021-10-19|website=www.polksheriff.org}} As the first employee under the age of 21 in the department, he was required to get his father to purchase his ammunition.{{cite news |last1=Chambliss |first1=John |title=Grady Judd Has Wanted to Be Sheriff Most of His Life |url=https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20050103/News/608088224/LL/|website=Theledger.com |accessdate=2 November 2018 |date=3 January 2005}} At the age of 27, he attained the rank of captain, supervising 44 employees, all of whom were older than he. He was elected as the sheriff of Polk County in 2004, and re-elected in 2008, 2012, and 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.newstalkflorida.com/news/orlando/grady-judd-sworn-in-for-fourth-term-as-polk-sheriff/|title=Grady Judd Sworn in For Fourth Term As Polk Sheriff|first=News Talk|last=Florida|date=4 January 2017|website=Newstalkflorida.com|accessdate=25 May 2018}} In the 2020 election campaign, Judd ran unopposed.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-11|title=No Contest: Grady Judd Will Be Polk County Sheriff 4 More Years|url=https://tampa.cbslocal.com/2020/07/11/no-contest-grady-judd-will-be-polk-county-sheriff-4-more-years-9/|access-date=2020-08-25|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-07-10|title=Polk Sheriff Grady Judd re-elected for four more years after no one ran against him|url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/polk-sheriff-grady-judd-re-elected-for-four-more-years-after-no-one-ran-against-him|access-date=2020-08-13|website=FOX 13 News|language=en-US}} He was re-elected with over 80% of the vote in 2024 to a sixth term, becoming the first sheriff in that county to serve that many terms. {{Cite web |last=Nutcher |first=Paul |date=2024-11-08 |title=Polk Sheriff Grady Judd easily wins 6th term. |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/polk-sheriff-grady-judd-easily-wins-6th-term-becky-troutman-takes-county-commission-seat/ar-AA1tA0H8 |website=MSN}} Judd served as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida and Florida Southern College.

Judd served as president of the Florida Sheriffs Association (2013–2014) and president of the Major County Sheriffs of America (2018–2019). He is a commissioner on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission.{{Cite web|last=Association|first=Florida Sheriffs|title=Polk County Sheriff Bio|url=https://www.flsheriffs.org/sheriffs/bio/polk-county|access-date=2020-08-13|website=Florida Sheriffs Association|language=en}} Judd served as an active member of the Bartow Rotary Club since 1994, and was a member of the board of directors for the club from 1996 to 1999. Judd has served as an active member and Paul Harris Fellow of the Bartow Rotary Club since 1994, and as a member of the board of directors for the club from 1996 until 1999.

Judd gained publicity as a sheriff with his "tell it how it is" demeanor. 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."{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Gary|date=2006-10-01|title=SWAT teams shot suspect with 68 bullets|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2006-10-01-deputy01-story.html|url-status=dead|access-date=2020-06-02|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603120507/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2006-10-01-deputy01-story.html|archive-date=2020-06-03}}

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.{{Cite web|last=Beasock|first=Ray|title=Sheriff Grady Judd receives presidential appointment from Trump|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2020/12/27/sheriff-grady-judd-receives-appointment-trump/4039682001/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=The Ledger|language=en-US}}

While the office of sheriff in Polk County is non-partisan,{{cite news |url= https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/four_corners_news_sun/elections-for-polk-county-offices-take-shape/article_d8d90e28-bbce-11ea-9b0e-132834a0e60e.html | title= Elections for Polk County offices take shape | work = Four Corners News-Sun | first1= Cathy | last1 = Palmer | date = July 8, 2020 | access-date= September 21, 2020}} Judd frequently endorses Republican political candidates.{{cite web |url= https://www.floridadaily.com/grady-judd-goes-to-bat-for-republicans-across-florida/ | title= Grady Judd Goes to Bat for Republicans Across Florida | first1= Kevin | last1= Derby | date= June 12, 2018 | access-date= September 22, 2020 |work= Florida Daily}} In a 2022 news conference, Judd referred to Republican Florida governor Ron DeSantis as the "greatest governor in the United States of America."{{cite web |title=Polk Sheriff Grady Judd: 'Innocent people are being murdered where prosecutors don't do their job' |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH41HRrZNyg |website=Fox 13 Tampa Bay | date=4 August 2022 |access-date=9 August 2022}}

Controversy emerged in 2024 over allegations that PCSO detectives under his supervision dismissed reports of child sexual abuse, failing to take the victims’ claims seriously.{{cite news |last=de Leon |first=Rachel |date=29 October 2024 |title=Florida teen forced to collect her own evidence to prove she was sexually abused |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/florida-teen-forced-to-collect-her-own-evidence-to-prove-she-was-sexually-abused |work=PBS News Hour |publisher=PBS}}{{Cite web |last=White |first=Gary |title=Not believed: Charged with filing false report, Polk teen captured own evidence during rape |url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2024/11/01/story-of-lakeland-womans-rape-as-teen-gains-national-attention/75942133007/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=The Ledger |language=en-US}} 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. {{Cite web |last1=Leon |first1=Rachel de |last2=Lurie |first2=Julia |title=Police didn't believe a 12-year-old who said she'd been raped. Then she hit record. |url=https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2024/11/taylor-cadle-polk-county-false-reporting-investigation/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US}}

In October 2024, a PCSO detective received a letter of retraining over the handling of a child sexual abuse report and was ordered to complete online training regarding interviews and interrogations.{{Cite news |last=White |first=Gary |date=December 5, 2024 |title=Polk Sheriff's detective receives training order over handling of girl's 2016 rape claim |url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2024/12/05/polk-detective-receives-training-order-over-girls-2016-rape-claim/76701699007/ |work=The Ledger}}

In 2021, Judd led a six-month undercover investigation with the PCSO into drug sales on three LGBTQ dating apps: Grindr, Scruff, and Taimi, which led to 52 arrests.{{Cite web |last=Stelloh |first=Tim |date=Jan 28, 2022 |title='Swipe left for meth': Florida officials using dating apps to try to find drug dealers |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/swipe-left-meth-florida-officials-using-dating-apps-try-find-drug-deal-rcna13908 |access-date=2022-02-03 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

In February 2024, Judd led an eight-day long undercover investigation with the PCSO into human trafficking which resulted in 228 arrests.{{Cite news |orig-date=March 5, 2024 |title=228 arrested, 13 rescued in Polk County human trafficking investigation, sheriff says |url=https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county/228-arrested-in-polk-county-human-trafficking-investigation-sheriff-says/ |work=ABC Action News}}

In October 2024, Judd spearheaded a five-day long undercover investigation with the PCSO into human trafficking which led to 157 arrests. {{Cite news |title=Disney employee among 157 nabbed in Polk County human trafficking bust: Grady Judd |url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/disney-employee-among-more-than-150-arrested-polk-county-human-trafficking-bust-grady-judd |publication-date=October 17, 2024}}

Judd has also worked with Chris Hansen on multiple stings to arrest predators suspected of soliciting minors for illegal activities.{{cite web|url=https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county/fanboy-meets-chris-hansen-during-polk-co-child-sex-crime-sting-sheriff-says/|title='Fanboy' meets Chris Hansen during Polk Co. child sex crime sting, sheriff says|date=September 15, 2022|access-date=June 11, 2025}}

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%).{{Cite web|title=JUDD WINS 3-WAY RACE TO TAKE OVER AS SHERIFF|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2004-09-01-0409010350-story.html|access-date=2021-11-19|website=Orlando Sentinel|date=September 2004 |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web|title=POLK SHERIFF PRAISED AS HE LEAVES OFFICE|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2004-12-19-0412190024-story.html|access-date=2021-11-19|website=Orlando Sentinel|date=19 December 2004 |language=en}}

Judd was re-elected by defeating write-in candidate Michael Lashman.{{Cite news|title=The Ledger|url=https://www.theledger.com/article/20120807/News/608087657|access-date=November 19, 2021}} Judd received 96% of the vote; Lashman received just under 4%.{{Cite news|title=The Ledger|url=https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20081105/News/608102630/LL|access-date=November 19, 2021}}

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.{{Cite news|title=The Ledger|url=https://www.theledger.com/article/20121106/News/608099842|access-date=November 19, 2021}}

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.{{Cite web|title=Summary Results - Election Night Reporting|url=https://enr.electionsfl.org/POL/Summary/1373/|access-date=2021-11-19|website=enr.electionsfl.org}}

Judd ran for a fifth term of office in 2020 and was re-elected unopposed, making Judd the first sheriff in Polk’s 160-year history to be elected to five terms.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-05|title=Sheriff Grady Judd makes Polk County history as he's sworn in for his 5th term|url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-polk/sheriff-grady-judd-makes-polk-county-history-as-hes-sworn-in-for-his-5th-term|access-date=2021-11-19|website=WFTS|language=en}}

Judd ran for a sixth term of office in 2024 and was re-elected with 84% of the vote, making Judd the first sheriff in the history of Polk County to be elected to six terms. {{Cite web |last=Nutcher |first=Paul |date=2024-11-08 |title=Polk Sheriff Grady Judd easily wins 6th term. |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/polk-sheriff-grady-judd-easily-wins-6th-term-becky-troutman-takes-county-commission-seat/ar-AA1tA0H8 |website=MSN}}

Sheriff Judd was elected president of the Florida Sheriffs Association in 2013.{{Cite web|title=The Florida Sheriffs Association|url=https://www.flsheriffs.org/publications/entry/florida-sheriffs-association-names-new-president|access-date=2021-12-01|website=Florida Sheriffs Association|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Major County Sheriffs of America Leadership|url=https://mcsheriffs.com/leadership/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=Major County Sheriffs of America|language=en-US}} In 2019, Judd was appointed by the National Sheriffs' Association to serve on the School Safety and Security Committee.{{Cite web|title=School Safety Committee {{!}} NATIONAL SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION|url=https://www.sheriffs.org/programs/school-safety/committee|access-date=2021-12-01|website=www.sheriffs.org}} In 2025, Judd was chosen as the chairman for the newly formed State Immigration Enforcement Council.{{Cite web |title=State Immigration Enforcement Council |url=https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/State-Board-of-Immigration-Enforcement/State-Immigration-Enforcement-Council}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.polksheriff.org/ Polk County Sheriff's Office]
• https://www.lkldnow.com/part-3-sheriff-grady-judd-has-faced-controversies-protected-children/

{{DEFAULTSORT:Judd, Grady}}

Category:Living people

Category:1954 births

Category:FBI National Academy graduates

Category:Florida sheriffs

Category:People from Lakeland, Florida

Category:Anti-cannabis media