Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith used a Monday Facebook post to single out a local registrant as the county’s latest “Sexual Predator of the Week,” naming John Brown and listing a Lawtey address. The short alert reiterated the department’s standard warning that the information is meant to help public safety, not to stir up vigilantism, and pointed residents to state records for photos and full registration details.
What Sheriff Smith Posted
In the Facebook notice, Sheriff Smith identified John Brown and listed the registrant’s reported address as 1303 NE 219th St in Lawtey. The post repeated the office’s standard caution that “the information should not be used to harass or vandalize property or to facilitate crimes against sexual offenders and predators,” and it directed readers to official registry entries for verification, as posted by the Sheriff Gordon Smith - Bradford County Sheriff.
How To Verify And Report
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs the statewide Sexual Offenders and Predators search and operates a toll-free tip line at 1-888-357-7332 for corrections or anonymous reports, according to the FDLE. For local, non-emergency follow-up, residents can call the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office at (904) 966-6380 or visit the department’s website for contact information and resources, including links to the official registry.
Legal Context
Florida law allows local law enforcement to release specific registration details and requires public access to offender records under Chapter 943. The statute spells out who must register and how community notification works, according to the Florida Senate. The framework is intended to promote safety while warning that misusing registry information can lead to legal consequences.
Why It Matters In Bradford County
Sheriff Smith’s weekly spotlight posts are part of a recent pattern of social media notices meant to put registry details directly into local news feeds while steering residents toward official channels instead of direct confrontations. That approach, and the sheriff’s recurring Facebook features, has been documented previously in coverage of his recurring posts, which highlight registered individuals and emphasize contacting FDLE or the sheriff’s office rather than taking matters into one’s own hands.
