23 Facts About Grady Judd

Grady Judd was born on March 10,1954 and is an American law enforcement officer and serves as the sheriff of Polk County, Florida since 2005.

Grady Judd earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from Rollins College, and graduated from the FBI National Academy.

Grady Judd started working for the Polk County Sheriff's Office in 1972 as a dispatcher.

Grady Judd was elected as the sheriff of Polk County in 2004, and re-elected in 2008,2012, and 2016.

Grady Judd served as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida and Florida Southern College.

Grady Judd served as president of the Florida Sheriffs Association and president of the Major County Sheriffs of America.

Grady Judd is a commissioner on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission.

Grady 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.

Grady 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.

Grady Judd gained publicity as a sheriff with his "tell it how it is" demeanor.

In 2020, Grady Judd was appointed by US president Donald Trump to serve a three-year term on the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

In 2021, Grady 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.

In February 2024, Grady Judd led an eight-day long undercover investigation with the PCSO into human trafficking which resulted in 228 arrests.

In October 2024, Grady Judd spearheaded a five-day long undercover investigation with the PCSO into human trafficking which led to 157 arrests.

Grady Judd has worked with Chris Hansen on multiple stings to arrest predators suspected of soliciting minors for illegal activities.

Grady Judd was elected Sheriff of Polk County in his first run for public office.

Crow was appointed by Governor Bob Martinez in 1987 and served until Grady Judd was sworn into office.

Grady Judd again faced write-in candidate Michael Lashman, a flooring contractor from Lakeland, in his third campaign for sheriff.

Grady Judd ran for a fifth term of office in 2020 and was re-elected unopposed, making Grady Judd the first sheriff in Polk's 160-year history to be elected to five terms.

Sheriff Grady Judd was elected president of the Florida Sheriffs Association in 2013.

In 2018, Grady Judd was sworn in as president of the Major County Sheriffs of America for a two-year term, and is a member of the executive board as immediate past president.

In 2019, Grady Judd was appointed by the National Sheriffs' Association to serve on the School Safety and Security Committee.

In 2025, Grady Judd was chosen as the chairman for the newly formed State Immigration Enforcement Council.