Nexus Services To Polk County Sheriff: Your Reckless Tweets Could Kill Your Citizens

PR NewswireSeptember 7, 2017

Nexus will assist individuals evacuating who may fear that their civil rights could be violated after Sheriff Grady Judd's tweets, which threatened to utilize life sustaining shelters as a tool to investigate citizens and make arrests.

LAKELAND, Fla., Sept. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexus Services Inc. has dispatched disaster recovery teams to Florida to assist their clients who may be evacuating due to the potential devastation of Hurricane Irma. Additionally, Nexus is concerned that Sheriff Grady Judd in Polk County Florida has recklessly and irresponsibly spread fear throughout his most disadvantaged communities by threatening to have law enforcement officers use lifesaving shelters to investigate his citizens. Nexus has established a hotline for victims who may be afraid of Sheriff Judd and his office's politicization of a potential natural disaster of epic proportions.

Mike Donovan, CEO & President, Nexus Services, Inc.

The hotline for Polk County residents who may need assistance is (813) 815-4663.

Nexus has limited teams on the ground but will endeavor to assist individuals and families with transportation or lodging if they must evacuate but are afraid to do so because of the Sheriff's threats. "Just as in cases of voter manipulation where people are led to believe warrant checks may be conducted at polling places, the Sheriff's threats seem aimed at preventing people from seeking lifesaving services, such as shelters", said Mike Donovan, President and CEO of Nexus Services Inc. "If the Sheriff was actually trying to catch folks with warrants, he wouldn't announce his intentions.

His efforts here therefore seem to indicate a much more sinister agenda… an agenda where certain classes of people more susceptible to this fear mongering would elect not to accept services, and perhaps ultimately pay for that decision with their lives. This could affect entire families, because of one persons' fear related to the Sheriff's tweets. As is the case with similar threats used to manipulate voters, these practices disproportionately affect communities of color, African Americans, immigrants, and individuals who live in socio-economically disadvantaged communities."

Donovan stated further that "Sheriff Grady Judd knows exactly what he is doing in that people will be afraid of his statements, that the fear will cause them to not seek shelter, and that as a result people… men, women, and children, may die. It is quite clear that the Sheriff will be responsible if his fear mongering and race based predatory practices result in injuries or a loss of life. Nexus is committed to doing its part to help those who might be fearful of the Sheriff's clear and shameful politicization of a natural disaster."

Nexus believes the proper inquiry is "do you need help now?" not "what have you done or where have you lived in your past?" The first question prioritizes legitimate human needs. The second question is simply irrelevant to the delivery of emergency services and would result in placing a relative value on a human life.

Nexus Caridades Attorneys, Inc. is one of the largest providers of pro bono legal services in the country. Nexus Caridades, Inc. is committed to standing up for victims of abuse by government agencies and officials. http://www.nexuscaridades.com/