About the Office of Sheriff

The "Office of Sheriff" is statutorily charged with the responsibility for providing all primary law enforcement services within Polk County. This includes such disparate functions as maintaining law enforcement patrols and investigations, serving civil and criminal process, operating the jail and Sheriff's Training and Respect Program, providing bailiffs in the court rooms, and even placing school crossing guards at intersections and crosswalks throughout Polk County.

The Office of Sheriff has changed since Polk County was incorporated in 1861. Back then, the Sheriff also served as the Ex Officio Tax Assessor and Collector. He "made lists and kept his books according to his own choice of style." He was a "frontier" lawman.

One-hundred forty-four years later, Polk County has grown from a "rural county Sheriff's office" to the fifth largest Sheriff's jurisdiction in the state.

Under the professional leadership of Sheriff Grady Judd, the Polk County Sheriff's Office maintains international accreditation and is recognized throughout the state as a professional, progressive and successful law enforcement agency.