Preaching Sheriff Won't Back Down

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has a long history of speaking his mind and standing his ground.

He proved that yet again on Father’s Day when he gave another sermon in uniform, this time at Fellowship Church Assembly of God.

Judd’s insistence on wearing his sheriff’s office uniform while in the pulpit has drawn national attention and fire courtesy of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Earlier this month, lawyers for the nonprofit group fired off a letter to Judd saying his uniformed appearances violated separation of church and state.

Judd fired back verbally, refusing to provide a written response as requested in the letter, which also threatened legal action.

“He’s going to continue doing what he’s done in the past,” Scott Wilder, director of communications for the sheriff’s office, told Patch following Judd’s receipt of the foundation’s June 15 letter. “The sheriff rejects the argument that this is somehow against the Constitution.”

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The letter spelled out the foundation’s objections to Judd’s sermons: “You gave the sermon dressed in your Polk County Sheriff’s Office Class ‘A’ uniform, proclaimed your support for faith-based jailing, and claimed that the best way to reform individuals who have broken the law is through Jesus. You are also listed as ‘Sheriff Grady Judd’ repeatedly on the church website, including as a preacher.”

The letter specifically addressed a sermon Judd gave at First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, titled “Wouldn’t The World Be Better If Everyone Behaved Like a Christian.” That April 19 sermon is posted in video format on the church’s website.

The foundation’s lawyer Andrew Seidel contends Judds’ actions add up to “abuse of public office for personal religious gain.” Judd, however, says the claims have no merit.

While Seidel wanted Judd to stop wearing the uniform, Wilder said last week that wasn’t going to happen. Judd proved that Sunday.

Now, the association is planning to write to Polk County officials, according to Fox news, but hasn’t moved on legal action as of yet.

“He is a bit of a loose cannon,” foundation officer Annie Laurie Gaylor told Fox. “And yes, he was elected, but that doesn’t mean he has unbridled power. His wings can be clipped.”

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