WINTER HAVEN -- The Polk County Sheriff says he's making progress fighting gangs.
Polk Sheriff Grady Judd gave reporters an update on the work of the Violent Gang Investigative Task Force he launched in early 2023 along with various city, state and federal agencies and prosecutors.
Judd says that in the 18 months since the task force was created, gang shootings are down 30 percent in Polk, from 87 to 61. Over that time, the task force has arrested 144 suspected gang members and associates, and seized 57 firearms, six of which were confirmed stolen.
"Operation Drive By-Bye", the latest of several operations targeting gangs, has arrested 19 people suspected of a series of drive-by shootings, other felony offenses, and a fatal stabbing. Judd says these gang members are also responsible for a series of violent attacks involving five gangs in eastern Polk County.
Judd says many of those facing charges had been arrested before, but prosecutors were unable to make those charges stick because witnesses wouldn't testify. The sheriff says gangs were intimidating witnesses with an arsenal of deadly weapons, including a Glock handgun he said had been modified to be fully automatic.
The gang task force was formed after a spike in gang-related and drive-by shootings in 2021, which started with the deadly shooting of 20-year-old Dyreon Outsey. Gangs taunted each other through songs and social media.
Judd was joined by local pastors who expressed their support for the gang crackdown and for programs to get young members away from gang life.
Photo: Polk County Sheriff's Office