The Danger of Hiding Crime Data in Polk County

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It has now been months since Sheriff Grady Judd turned off the crime blotter for the public. And we are still scratching our heads. 

We can estimate that at least 4,000 crimes have occurred since then. Burglaries, robberies, thefts, shootings, arsons, and home invasions are now invisible to the public. 

Why would any police agency reduce transparency? In the twelve years that I have been reaching out to police agencies, I have never seen an agency get operationally better by hiding information from the public. Not sharing crime data publicly reduces transparency and retards accountability. Almost every major agency in Florida provides data to the public. Sheriff Judd is one of the exceptions.

Removal of public access to crime information significantly reduces the public’s perception of the difficult daily work Polk County Sheriff’s deputies face responding to everyday crimes. Currently, only the showboat busts that the Sheriff uses to promote himself are being made public. 

Recently Sheriff Judd criticized the internet company Steam for not providing him information fast enough. He said the company hid behind their lawyers and deliberately delayed information. I find this a curious accusation because it is identical to what Sheriff Judd is doing with public crime data. 

He has repeatedly stated that the lawyers he employs have told him that he can no longer share data with the public because of the FL victim rights law - Marsy’s Law. This seems to be exactly the action in which he criticized Steam. (Remember, Marsy’s Law specifically explained that it ‘does not justify delays in releasing information on the details of a crime, including general location information’ yet Sheriff Judd still will not release crime information publicly).

He went on to say, for the sake of humanity, why would anyone delay information that could help reduce or solve a crime? Yes, why is Sheriff Judd not sharing information with the public he serves that could help reduce or solve a crime in Polk County?

Please reach out to your elected officials, including Sheriff Judd. Ask why he is hiding behind his lawyers on this matter. Ask why critical public crime information is being withheld from the public.

You can not protect innocent people if you hide criminal activities from the people. The people have a right to know what is going on in their neighborhoods, and criminals do not deserve to be protected by not alerting the public when a crime has been committed.

Sincerely,

Colin Drane, Founder

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