Lawsuit claims Polk juvenile inmates were abused and neglected

Glad that these kids aren't being coddled.

I could only wish the allegations were true...

Grady Judd is the MAN!

He's Cool!

I agree that he says the right thing quite a bit and that is good, but he seems to be a bit of an attention whore.   I'm not bashing him, but he does seem to ham it up for the camera at times.

Ham it up......he is right, if more people had his balls this country wouldnt be heading in the shithole like it is.

Believe me, I agree.   It just seems like he plays it up for the media at times, although I do think it's good for people to hear his point of view.   Maybe it will wake a few people up.  

I've seen the Sheriff at no less than 4 public charity events in the 9 months that I've lived in the Lakeland area and more importantly, I drove through the middle of Grady's man-hunt a few months back when they were looking for the culprit that killed a policeman near Crystal Lake.  What I've learned from my experiences with him is that he is a very caring man when it comes to public causes but when you break the law, nothing will keep this many from finding you!  Grady Judd and Joe Arpaeo (sp?) in Arizona must be distant cousins!

I don't like how he does these online predator things. It is very

rare for them to arrest anyone from Polk County in them.

Other than than that and the hamming it up on the camera I

like him.


 

So you're mad that he's taking down predators from other counties?  I don't live in Polk Co., so I'm fine with him drawing them out of Osceola Co.

I am not mad, but don't like them wasting our tax resources on criminals

from other counties and states.  





 

You would be shocked to know the distance some have come to stings our county has either sponsored or participated in.  IMO... who cares WHERE the scumbag sleeps... the fact is if just ONE molester is taken in the operation, it's worth it.  They come from as far as three hours away by car and over an hour away by bicycle.

Obviously I can't and won't go into detail... but you would be seriously shocked to know just what ads these shit-bags are responding to.  Sick shit is all I can say.

Our agency has been a sponsor as well as a supporter of operations, close to home and abroad... I'm sure it's the same with your county as well.  These operations are complex, high-tech, and require multi-agency cooperation... it's not usually an all in-house deal.

+1. I don't care where they come from either... as long as they end up in jail.

Wasted tax resources ........its a different story when you have a loved one become a victim....hope to hell it never happens to you or yours

"That's all the ammo they had" when commenting on why the POS who killed Dep. Matt Williams and Diogi was shot at  110 times and hit 68 times.  Grady Judd FTW.

That was classic!

Its not a waste when you realize that these sex offenders and child molesters will travel great distances to meet and molest someone.  You do realize that some victims contact law enforcement that have been sexually abused by suspects that live outside the local area or state, so it does happen.  Would you rather that law enforcement take a reactionary role and follow up on these offenses or be proactive?    

I think it should be handled by the FDLE or the Feds. It is a state issue and

in some case a federal issue. You do realize he does the same thing with

adult prostitution also. They also spent tens of thousands of dollars going

after a man out west for selling a book online.



I feel he is part of a good ole boys club based on things I have heard him

say.



I know many of you think he did nothing wrong here, But he is so hard

on criminals unless it is one of own in trouble. I do have to say that

I have not seen a better Sheriff. I am just expressing my dissatisfaction.






http://www.theledger.com/article/20070930/NEWS/709300411



You know that if one of us did something like this we would have

went to jail.
 

Imports crime using child porn/prostitution stings - abuses juveniles in jail.



I was happy when he was taking away lunches, basketball hoops, and underwear.

I will stay on the topic of sexual predators that use the internet to arrange meeting juveniles. The state (FDLE) often does play a role in these investigations.  However, police departments and sheriff's offices that have a subject who has used computer, phone or other means of communication with the intent to "meet" juveniles arrive in their jurisdiction, who should handle this?  FDLE is a good organization, but they are spread thin in alot areas.  One of the biggest investigative duties FDLE has is the investigation of misconduct, in connection with their official duties, of public officials and employees and of members of public corporations and authorities subject to suspension or removal by the Governor.  FDLE agents will conduct other criminal investigations, but usually partnered with local agencies or as part of a task force.  They also maintain forensics examiners and the various state crime labs.  They also oversee state criminal information computer systems.  

Next, the FBI?  They handle federal laws.  Do you really think the FBI would devote the resources to picking up sexual predators in small (by their standard) investigations?

As far as the other information about where the sheriff has possibly made mistakes or shown favoritism, since he is elected, he is responsible to the citizens within his county.  Vote him out.

Why are you refusing to realize how he grandstands by using our tax money.

You are cherry picking. The book thing was a federal law but he wasted

10's of thousands of our dollars on it. The adult prostitution stings

are ridiculous and border on entrapment. Blue line and all I understand

how you are blind to proven detrimental information.



 

Dont you pull the "Blue line and all I understand how you are blind to proven detrimental information" crap on me.  Lets get this straight, we know each others screen names and locales.  Other than that I have posted in a few topics you have also posted in (in GD and hometown forums) that I am aware of off hand.  You know nothing about me, other than I am in Florida and yes, I'm a cop.  To infer that I am blinded by my occupation is an insult that reeks of anonymous internet bravado.

If you say he is "grandstanding" great thats your opinion.  But do not chastise me as though I am a small child for "refusing to realize how he grandstands by using our tax money".   I responded to your post with information relevent to a segment of your post and not being familiar with the sheriff, all I said was "As far as the other information about where the sheriff has possibly made mistakes or shown favoritism, since he is elected, he is responsible to the citizens within his county.  Vote him out.".  

I have since read the link about the sheriff's captain and I will say this.  Based on the article, he needed to go.  As far as his charges and the disposition of his criminal case, I will tell you this.  Plea bargains are COMMON and are the most FREQUENTLY used resolution to criminal cases in this state.  Why do plea bargains happen?  several reasons.  First, the court would be bogged down if every case went to jury trial.  Second, plea bargains usually result in less severe sentences and often include dropping some charges or reducing the charges to a lesser charge.  Why are plea bargains the most common resolution to criminal cases?  Because some people know that they will probably lose at trial (may get found guilty of the charge or a lesser included charge) and then face sentencing in compliance with the sentence guidelines.  Some times the prosecutions case may have some weakness and they would prefer to avoid trial and expose this weakness to the defense.  Some people just are tired of having it hang over their heads and want it over.  Others just want to resolve the issue quickly.  But here is what you may or may not know.  The defense and prosecutor will work out a plea agreement.  They may or may not have a sentence agreed to which they will present to the judge (such as house arrest, probation or a prison term).  They then take the plea before the judge who can accept or reject the plea.  The judge has authority over the sentence.  Those sentence guidelines are used in conjunction with a score sheet of the defendants prior convictions to determine what sentence they will receive in accordance with the state guidelines.  Any deviation under the sentence guidelines is a "departure sentence" and is less frequently used by judges in my area.  It is not unusual for 1st time felony offenders to receive probation for non violent crimes.  

So back to your comment of "You know that if one of us did something like this we would have went to jail", if you think the sheriff pulled this off, he didnt do this alone.  This involved at least an Assistant State Attorney (works for the State Attorney, an elected official), a Judge (elected official) and a Defense Attorney (a member of the BAR and works for an elected official if he is employed by the Public Defenders Office).    Which brings me back to the point that in addition to the sheriff, the State Attorney and Judge are elected officials who face accountability by the citizens within their respective circuits or counties.  So before you call me blind to proven information, please go to a courtroom and see how things work.

There is no internet bravado here. I posted my dislikes about


Judd which are all well founded. You commented on my opinion.





Be honest with me... If you caught a suspect accused of stealing ammo


and other goods from his employer with a Short barreled shotgun with


explosives, Wouldn't you have notified the BATF?  I fault them all for not


notifying the BATF. That is a double standard to me and I find


it hard to trust a person with a double standard.





 

Opinions I understand, your statement about the " Blue line and all I understand how you are blind to proven detrimental information" is bullshit.

This is the way it works where I am employed.

If I was investigating this offense (and I have made arrests in real life for weapons offenses, most experienced cops in a medium size city and up have as well), if I could establish probable cause, I would charge him with:
*FSS 812.014  Grand Theft (assuming the ammunition and other property was valued at over $300.00)
*FSS 790.221  Possession of short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or machine gun
*FSS 790.161  Making, possessing, throwing, projecting, placing, or discharging any destructive device or attempt so to do

I would charge him with violating the above Florida state statutes, as I am a sworn law enforcement officer whose jurisdiction falls within the state of Florida.  I do not have the authority to charge this subject under federal laws.  I cannot arrest someone for violating federal laws.  I can arrest someone who is the subject of a federal arrest warrant and take them to a county jail, although they will be held for the US Marshalls Service. (Some officers are given limited federal powers, usually when participating in task forces or special operations, but this is most commonly associated with ICE and DEA).  .    

So if I charge the subject, it will be under Florida law.  The state attorney will receive the case and if I have established probable cause, the state attorney will prosecute the case.  How do the feds get involved?  The state attorney will have to agree to transfer the case to the feds.  How does this usually happen?  First, have someone in possession of multiple illegal or un registered weapons.  Second, have someone manufacturing illegal weapons (this also gets into licensing and tax issues, which the BATFE likes).  Lastly, have a defendant on strong charges like trafficking in narcotics and have an extensive prior conviction record.  BATFE likes to get federal gun charges on traffickers with previous arrest records (felons who shouldnt be in possession of firearms or ammunition).  But the reality is that a small fish (some one for example in possession of a single AOW weapon and or  a small amount of explosive material), with no previous conviction history will usually be left at the state level.        

Well I saw them call the ATF real quick when they caught a man making

homemade fireworks a couple years ago. We may have differing opinions

but I feel that Judd's comment about how bad it was for Capt was overstated.

I still have no doubts that if i was caught in a position like the capt was

I would have gotten a lot more time then the capt did. I see a strong

good ol boys club still going strong in this county.  



 

floridacop don't waste your time debating with bandit man he has proven time and again he dislikes govt. employees.  Apparently we always abuse the money he pays in taxes, which apparently keep going up for him.  He is an expert on criminal justice procedures even though he has probably never  worked in that capacity.  

Bandit man just so you know the Feds very seldom take firearms cases or anything else for that matter when they did not initiate the investigation.  Are you sure it was BATF that was called for the fireworks or was it the State Fire Marshal?

Banditman, where I'm from "Good ol' boys club" doesent describe a sheriff whose own agency investigates, charges and arrests one of his captains.  Good ol' boys clubs would allow the captain to continue serving, maybe retire in lieu of being terminated and quietly sweep the incident under the rug (easy to do as the captain also stole some carpet).   There are 66 other counties in Florida and 49 other states in the US, surely one of them would suit your standards better.