Outspoken Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd pushes COVID vaccine after deputy’s death

ORLANDO, Fla. – Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, often outspoken on crime topics, is now speaking out about the COVID-19 vaccine, encouraging others to get the shot after one of his deputies died.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Christopher Broadhead died Monday after a weekslong battle with COVID-19.

[RELATED: Orange County sheriff continues push to get everyone in his department vaccinated]

“This virus is real and it’s deadly, and Christopher is the poster child for how deadly it is. He was only 32,” Judd told WFLA-TV.

Judd said Broadhead, who served as a deputy for a decade, was healthy but did not disclose whether Broadhead had been vaccinated.

[TRENDING: What does full approval of Pfizer jab really mean? | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]

Judd, a known conservative, said he has been vaccinated.

“I encourage everyone to get the vaccination (who is) eligible. My wife and I got the vaccination on Day 1 when we were eligible,” said Judd, who does not support a vaccine mandate.

Judd urged people to listen to their doctors, not politicians, when deciding whether to get the shot.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina issued a frank message with his deputies Wednesday on social media in his continuing effort to urge his department to get vaccinated.

Mina posted a video message on Twitter asking OCSO employees to get vaccinated.

The video message comes three weeks after Orange County Deputy First Class Craig Seijos, 54, died from COVID-19. Law enforcement officers from surrounding Central Florida agencies have also lost deputies and police to the virus in recent weeks.

Anyone interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccine can find a site at this link.

Mina is also offering employees three additional days off if they can show him they are vaccinated.

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