Grady Judd Biography: Polk County Sheriff, Age, Career, Family, Salary & Facts

Grady Judd is the no-nonsense, plain-talking Sheriff of Polk County, Florida, whose viral press conferences and aggressive undercover stings have made him one of the most recognizable lawmen in America. A Polk County native who started as an 18-year-old dispatcher in 1972 and worked every rank to the top, Judd has spent over half a century in the same agency he now leads. Known for his sharp one-liners, unapologetic conservative politics, and relentless pursuit of child predators and human traffickers, he enters 2026 serving his sixth elected term while facing renewed scrutiny over his office’s handling of sensitive criminal investigations.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Grady Curtis Judd Jr. was born on March 10, 1954, in Lakeland, Florida, to Grady Judd Sr. and Martha Judd . He grew up in Polk County and attended local schools, graduating from high school in 1972. That same summer, at age 18, he walked into the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and began his career as a dispatcher, earning $300 a month .

Judd later earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida . He is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy and has completed the Senior Management Institute for Police, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, and the FBI National Executive Institute . He holds honorary doctorates from Webber International University (2015) and Warner University (2020) .

Career Journey

Grady Judd’s career in law enforcement spans over five decades, marked by dedication, innovation, and a strong connection with the community.

Rising Through the Ranks (1972–2004)

Judd began his law enforcement journey on July 21, 1972, as a telecommunicator answering emergency calls . Within months, the law changed to allow 18-year-olds to become sworn officers, and Judd became the first deputy in Polk County history hired under age 21 . He rose through every rank in the agency—corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, and colonel—earning the nickname “Captain Kid” because he supervised employees decades older than him .

At age 27, he attained the rank of captain, supervising 44 employees . He also spent 23 years as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida and Florida Southern College .

Elected Sheriff (2005–Present)

In 2004, Judd ran for sheriff in his first bid for public office and won with 64% of the vote in a three-way race . He was sworn in on January 4, 2005, and has been reelected every four years since:

• 2008: Re-elected with 96% against a write-in candidate
• 2012: Re-elected with 96% (215,320 votes)
• 2016: Re-elected with 95.27%
• 2020: Re-elected unopposed—the first sheriff in Polk’s 160-year history to win five terms
• 2024: Re-elected with 83.76% (283,542 votes), becoming the first sheriff to serve six terms

National Profile and Leadership Roles

Judd served as president of the Florida Sheriffs Association (2013–2014) and president of the Major County Sheriffs of America (2018–2019) . In 2020, President Donald Trump appointed him to a three-year term on the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention . He is also a commissioner on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission .

Undercover Stings and Operations

Judd has gained national fame for leading large-scale undercover operations:

• 2021: A six-month investigation into drug sales on LGBTQ dating apps (Grindr, Scruff, Taimi) resulted in 52 arrests .
• February 2024: An eight-day human trafficking sting yielded 228 arrests .
• October 2024: A five-day human trafficking operation led to 157 arrests .
• April 2026: Operation Child Protector VIII targeted child predators .
• May 2026: “Polk Around and Find Out”—a multi-day joint-agency undercover sting—resulted in 266 arrests, including 34 individuals in the U.S. illegally, on charges ranging from human trafficking and prostitution to weapons offenses .

Judd has also collaborated with Chris Hansen, host of To Catch a Predator, on multiple stings .

Career Stats & Milestones

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Grady Judd married Marisa Ogburn in 1972, just three months after graduating high school and two months after he started at the Sheriff’s Office . The couple met when Marisa was visiting a friend at the ambulance service where Judd worked. He was so taken with her that he booked her for every weekend after their first date . They were engaged by Christmas 1971.

Marisa worked as a legal secretary and judicial assistant, and later managed the couple’s real estate investments . The Judds have two adult sons: Trae, a grocery manager for Publix, and Graham, a paramedic, ordained minister, and Ph.D. candidate in strategic leadership at Liberty University . They have 13 grandchildren . One grandson, Graham Cleveland Judd Jr., was stillborn in 2012 .

Faith and Values

Judd is a devout Christian who has described his faith as the foundation of his life and career. He has been an active member and Paul Harris Fellow of the Bartow Rotary Club since 1994 . He frequently credits his wife and family for supporting his demanding schedule, noting that being sheriff is “not a career, it’s a way of life” .

Real Estate and Lifestyle

The Judds have built significant wealth through real estate, owning and managing small apartment buildings in Polk County . In recent years, they sold the family homestead on County Road 540A for approximately $4 million and began building a dream home on a lake in Polk County .

Controversies

Judd’s blunt style and aggressive tactics have generated significant controversy over the years.

The 2006 Shooting Incident

In 2006, following a traffic stop in which a deputy and his K-9 were killed, deputies shot the suspect 68 times. When a reporter asked about the number of shots fired, Judd replied, “That’s all the bullets we had, or we would have shot him more” . The quote became infamous and emblematic of his uncompromising approach.

Child Sexual Abuse Investigation Allegations

In 2024, serious questions emerged about how PCSO detectives handled reports of child sexual abuse. Allegations surfaced that detectives dismissed victims’ claims, accused some juveniles of lying, and filed false-reporting charges against them while alleged abusers remained free . Some of those abusers were later convicted, and the false-reporting charges were overturned .

In October 2024, a PCSO detective received a letter of retraining over the handling of a child sexual abuse report . A lawsuit was filed in October 2025 against Judd and the department by a victim who alleged she was forced to recant her allegations and apologize to her rapist, who was later found guilty .

ICE Recruitment Dispute

In August 2025, Judd publicly expressed anger after ICE sent recruitment emails directly to his deputies, poaching from the very agency partnered with ICE through the 287(g) program. Judd called the tactic inappropriate, noting that PCSO was already facing 68 vacancies out of 840 allocated deputy positions .

Political Partisanship

Though the sheriff’s office is non-partisan, Judd frequently endorses Republican candidates. In 2022, he called Governor Ron DeSantis the “greatest governor in the United States of America” during a news conference . He has also appeared at political events and been criticized for blurring the line between law enforcement and partisan politics.

Awards & Achievements

• FBI National Academy Graduate
• Honorary Doctorate of Business, Webber International University (2015)
• Honorary Doctorate of Humane Studies, Warner University (2020)
• Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award (2008)
• Polk State College Distinguished Alumni Award
• Polk County School Board Hall of Fame Inductee
• Callyo’s Leaders in Online Child Protection Award (2013)
• Church Women United Human Rights Award (2013)
• Paul Harris Fellow, Bartow Rotary Club

Physical Statistics

Quotes

“That’s all the bullets we had, or we would have shot him more.”
— On the 2006 shooting of a suspect who killed a deputy and K-9

“This guy may be like the dumbest person on the face of the Earth. I mean, I’m just guessing.”
— During a 2023 press conference

“If your family is not bought into this, you can’t be successful in this. People not in this industry don’t understand the stress it puts on a family.”
— On the demands of being sheriff, 2022

“I love being the sheriff and fortunately Marisa loves me being the sheriff. She means so much to me… I’m planning to run again. I’m healthy. If I were governor, I’d be term-limited. I can be the sheriff forever.”
— On his future plans, 2022

Favorites

• Alma Mater: Rollins College
• Cities: Lakeland, Florida; Bartow, Florida
• Causes: Child protection, human trafficking prevention, juvenile justice, veterans
• Hobbies: Real estate investment, Rotary Club activities, family vacations with grandchildren
• Political Figures: Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump
• Work Style: Early riser (often up by 4:30 a.m.), hands-on management

Earnings

As sheriff, Judd is among the highest-paid public employees in Polk County. In 2008, he reported a net worth of $883,571 and a salary of $148,384 . By 2025, his annual compensation had risen to over $274,000, placing him in the top five of Polk County public servants . One speculative estimate placed his net worth at $20 million in 2023, though this appears inflated and is not independently verified . His documented wealth stems primarily from his sheriff’s salary, real estate investments, and his wife’s management of the family’s property portfolio .

Interesting Facts

• Judd became the first deputy in Polk County history hired under the age of 21 .
• He hung out in the sheriff’s dispatch office for over a month as an unpaid teenager until they finally put him on the payroll .
• He once picked flowers from a cemetery’s garbage pile to give to Marisa when they were dating because he was earning only $1.65 an hour .
• He still uses the same large wooden desk that Sheriff Monroe Brannen purchased in the 1970s .
• He receives several credible death threats per year; his wife carries a gun and once swept the pool area with her weapon out during a threat .
• Neither of his sons has pursued law enforcement, though Judd believes Trae would have excelled at it .
• He has been known to order drones for his grandchildren as rewards for completing summer reading goals .

Did You Know Already?

• Judd ended the Duncan family’s 54-year hold on Tennessee’s 2nd District—wait, no, that’s Tim Burchett. Judd ended the Crow family’s long hold on the Polk County Sheriff’s Office when he was elected in 2004 .
• He ran unopposed in 2020, a first in the office’s 160-year history .
• The May 2026 “Polk Around and Find Out” sting was one of the largest operations of its kind in the region, with 266 arrests .
• He has taught as an adjunct professor for 23 years at USF and Florida Southern College .
• His office offers a $20,000 sign-on bonus for experienced officers plus moving allowances up to $5,000 to combat staffing shortages .

Social Media Links

• Official Website: polksheriff.org
• YouTube: Polk Sheriff (official channel with press conferences)
• Facebook: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
• X/Twitter: @PolkCoSheriff (official office account)
• Instagram: @polksheriff

Note: Sheriff Judd does not maintain extensive personal social media accounts separate from official PCSO channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Grady Judd?
Grady Judd was born on March 10, 1954, making him 72 years old as of 2026.

How long has Grady Judd been sheriff?
He was first elected in 2004 and sworn in on January 4, 2005. As of 2026, he has served over 21 years as sheriff and 53 years total with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Who is Grady Judd’s wife?
He has been married to Marisa Ogburn since 1972. They met as teenagers and have been together for over 53 years.

How many children does Grady Judd have?
He has two adult sons, Trae and Graham, and 13 grandchildren.

What is Grady Judd’s salary?
He earns over $274,000 annually, making him one of the highest-paid public employees in Polk County.

What is Grady Judd known for?
He is best known for his tough-talking press conferences, viral quotes, large-scale undercover stings targeting human trafficking and child predators, and his conservative political commentary.

What controversies has Grady Judd faced?
Major controversies include his 2006 quote about shooting a suspect 68 times, allegations that his office mishandled child sexual abuse investigations (leading to a 2025 lawsuit), and accusations of political partisanship in a non-partisan office.

Is Grady Judd a Republican?
While the sheriff’s office is technically non-partisan, Judd is openly Republican, endorses GOP candidates, and has called Ron DeSantis the greatest governor in America.

Conclusion

Grady Judd’s career is a singular study in longevity, loyalty, and unfiltered communication. From an 18-year-old dispatcher earning $300 a month to a six-term sheriff commanding an agency of 840 officers, he has never left the only employer he ever wanted. At 72, he continues to hold press conferences that make national headlines, lead stings that sweep hundreds off the streets, and defy expectations about retirement. Whether celebrated as a no-nonsense crime fighter or criticized for his controversial tactics and political entanglements, Judd remains unmistakably himself: a Polk County original who plans to wear the badge for as long as voters will have him.

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