Former longtime Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy, who oversaw the saga of missing 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings and dealt with a murderous jail break, has died at 60 years old.
Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach said he died over the weekend, and the Sheriff’s Office posted the following details of his career on the department’s Facebook.
Sheriff Hardy began his career in Putnam County as a deputy in 1991 having transferred from Broward County Sheriff’s Office and served prior in the US Navy. He served with the sheriff’s office honorably until 2004, promoting through the ranks to lieutenant when he resigned to run in a then-failed bid for sheriff. During the subsequent four years Sheriff Hardy worked for the Putnam County School District, improving security measures in our schools. Hardy ran again in 2008 and won becoming sheriff in 2009. Within weeks of his new administration, Sheriff Hardy was tested with a missing child case and national scrutiny.
Haleigh Cummings’ disappearance would intertwine throughout Sheriff Hardy’s two terms as sheriff and remained with him for the rest of his life. On the heels of her disappearance, Putnam also faced one of the boldest escapes from the failing Putnam County jail. The jail, an outdated, overcrowded and dangerous relic was in desperate need of replacement and during Hardy’s first year he was faced with not only an escape, but also an attempted escape in which the inmate was shot scaling a fence, and three suicides.
These terrible incidents fortified Sheriff Hardy’s resolve in not only fixing long-term issues in the jail, but also successfully getting county commission approval to build a fully functional new facility that was not only hurricane rated, but also safer for inmates and corrections deputies. The new Putnam County jail was opened in January 2016, Hardy’s last year in office.
Sheriff DeLoach worked with Sheriff Hardy throughout most of his career, first serving with Sheriff Hardy as a youth resource officer of which Hardy was a supervisor.
“Jeff had a compassion for people and his first year he was tasked with navigating, I dare say, an unimaginable series of events that culminated in a perfect storm,” DeLoach said. “He was able to work toward a better environment for our staff, inmates and residents in getting a new jail built, he created a district policing model that modernized the way this office operates. He reshaped how we deliver service by bringing greater accountability, efficiency and transparency to our operations – something we continue today. As his friend, I will remember his wit, sense of humor and unwavering commitment to public service.”
Additionally, Sheriff Hardy’s dedication to those whom he served with was evident in 2011 when then-Deputy Randy Hayes was shot in the line of duty. While insurance covered his medical bills, it did not cover supplies needed to aid in his recover but were not deemed “medically necessary.” This include a lift assist chair to help him get in and out of a seated position. The shortfall in this type of coverage led Sheriff Hardy to create with community members the Ten-24 Foundation. Ten-24 is the call sign for officer in need of assistance.
The Ten-24 Foundation continues today as a non-profit providing assistance to all Putnam County law enforcement officers, employees of local law enforcement agencies and their families. The foundation has distributed thousands of dollars to assist in cancer treatment, training peer counselors in mental health, purchasing lifesaving equipment and more.
“Sheriff Hardy’s commitment to our community and fellow law enforcement officers will continue to make an impact for decades to come,” DeLoach said. “He will be missed.”
(This story has been updated with a photo gallery.)
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Former Putnam sheriff during Haleigh Cummings saga has passed
Reporting by Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
