Reason: Florida Cops Re-Arrest 26 Sex Offenders in ‘Operation Karma.’ Their Crime? Not Updating Their Car Info.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Department in Florida is touting its successful completion of “Operation Karma,” a three-day sting in which cops arrested 26 registered sex offenders for violating various legal obligations imposed on them.
“They are apparently up to no good and we are going to hold them accountable,” Sheriff Grady Judd promises The Miami Herald.
But there is no evidence that any of the arrested people were a danger to anyone. They were not re-arrested for approaching children, or committing sex acts. In most cases, they were arrested for failing to register their vehicles with the government. This is understandable: sex offenders in Florida are required to provide the government with up-to-date information regarding their name, age, sex, height, weight, tattoos, hair color, address, email address, telephone number, social media accounts, employment information, and vehicle information. It’s probably fairly easy for a sex offender to forget to constantly re-supply necessary information.
But it’s absurd to suggest that these un-registered cars posed some kind of danger to the community. And yet The Miami Herald happily entertained this fantasy, allowing Grady and his office to essentially take a victory lap in the pages of the newspaper. The Herald also printed the mugshots of all the offenders, listed their names, and provided not only the reason for their re-arrests but information on their initial arrests. In practice, this means that many of these offenders—who range in age from 57 all the way down to 19—are being shamed for crimes they committed years and decades ago.
A bunch of mugshots of middle-aged men convicted of sex offenses against minors makes for a frightening image. But I did the math, and most of these people were in their 20s, or teens themselves, when they were first convicted.
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Can we just say ego gratification and re-election?
Andddd this is why I stay away from Central Florida. This man and his stupid stings or operations – overkill. Even a couple of neighboring Sheriffs around his county were quoted once saying that they disapprove with some of Judd’s sting operations because they were a waste of time and resources – Most people arrested by him in some stings, the cases get thrown out of court or dismissed. But he probably loves the media attention any way and listening to himself talk. He is a glory whore.
It almost seems as if these authority figures or whatever you want to call them, are trying to top each other in ridiculousness. We hear about Lauren, then we here about Ron, and then shortly pops Sheriff Judd again. Like literally one after the other in news. Its like a race to see who can be more ridiculous in their ridiculousness. I’d declare it a 3 way tie for now.
Yes, Alex it appears that its truly a three way tie. It also appears to be border line harassment. Yes, these individuals did not report their vehicle information, but in all honesty if you were required to report many things about your life as they change, it would be a very hard task to maintain. Truth be told, we sometimes forget to pay a bill because life happens and people forget. I truly hope that light will be shed on the many injustices we as registrants must face and endure because it is truly unfair, unethical, and in many ways violates our rights as human beings.
Well said Jay. I couldn’t agree with you more.
As a registered citizen, I’m terrified ! What’s going to be next? This is so unnerving. This Sheriff must get a kick out of bashing people, I try to support are boys in blue, but stuff like this ain’t right…. Real cops ! Real people! Police brutality at its finest, to serve and up hold they say…. Modern day leaching! I’m so sadden to hear what them poor folks have to go through in Polk county. Sound like a third world country ..so sad! Yet every county is a little different, but not by much. Whats so scary is that other counties here in Florida may want to join the band wagon… We’re so Doomed!
Grady Judd is at it again. I think he does it more for the publicity than for crime prevention. Every year at least on a quarterly basis, this guy comes up with some operation on registered citizens and with some lame ass name for that operation. No matter what he does and how big he does it, Polk county will always be irrelevant to Florida. I’m from Florida and even I had to look up Polk County when I first heard about him. One day sir, Karma will catch up to you in some way shape or form. We have seen it on here a couple of times.
I wonder what nit wit’s gonna give him an award.
I heard Shady Grady’s name alot in prison. But the people of Polk are afraid of him because he has alot of power in “his” county. And since I heard about him from fellow prisoners they are not to be believed.
Comments posted to the articles themselves— both in Reason and Miami Herald— seemed overwhelmingly anti-police. Very few of them were anti-registrant.
That seems to represent a sea change in public attitudes compared to 15 years ago, no?
Of course, until Pasco County voters take that attitude, not much will change.
Wait – when I first read this sick headline and the offense use of “Karma” (police should never use that as they have no idea of the true meaning) I was like – WFT – there are 26 RSO who can afford cars!
Once I regained My composure from that shock the next one was even more unbelievable – THE REASON – they hadn’t updated some trivial info on that car – Oh The Horror!
I read further and once I say it was Polk county and Sheriff Grady Judd the surprise wore off. He has no problem with harassment and of course, wasting tax payer money for petty shit like this.
One day Judd will learn the true meaning of the work KARMA.
Im thinking most were vehicles of Relatives, Compaions, and Friends, out to ruin there lives too.
Yea…the collateral caught in between all this mess. I hate registering the cars of my family members. I’m putting their lives in danger. I protect them like I protect myself.