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Florida Matters Newsmaker: Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd

Stephanie Colombini
/
WUSF Public Media
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd spoke with Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham at his office in Winter Haven.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is never at a loss for words or opinions on criminal behavior. He has recently played a major role in the response to the school shooting in Parkland.

This week on Florida Matters, we talk with Sheriff Judd as part of our ongoing “Newsmaker” series.

Judd has been Sheriff of Polk County since 2004. He is the President of Major County Sheriffs of America and former president of the Florida Sheriffs Association.

During our conversation with him at his office in Winter Haven, we discussed a variety of issues including:

  • Programs run by the Sheriff’s Office that train and arm school staff members to fend off active shooters
  • A program the department is preparing to launch that offers special services to inmates with severe mental health issues
  • The Sheriff’s stance on legalized marijuana
  • The Sheriff’s concerns about the state’s juvenile justice system

You can share your thoughts about what Sheriff Judd had to say by commenting on our Facebook page, tweeting @FloridaMatters or emailing FloridaMatters@wusf.org.

Hear an extended conversation with the Sheriff on issues like how to recruit and retain law enforcement amid a recent string of attacks on police officers in the state on our podcast Florida Matters More.

I cover health care for WUSF and the statewide journalism collaborative Health News Florida. I’m passionate about highlighting community efforts to improve the quality of care in our state and make it more accessible to all Floridians. I’m also committed to holding those in power accountable when they fail to prioritize the health needs of the people they serve.
Robin Sussingham was Senior Editor at WUSF until September 2020.