Biography

Sheriff Vent Crawford is a lifelong resident of Hardee County. He and his wife, Dr. Teresa Crawford, have been married for 38 years and have one daughter and two grandchildren. Vent graduated from Hardee High School, earned an Associate Degree from South Florida Junior College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida. Other education includes: executive leadership; evidence/property; Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission training; FEMA Incident Command System; FEMA ICS for Single Resource and Initial Action Incident; FEMA Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incident; FEMA National Incident Management System; field officer training; human diversity for instructors; leadership for mid-level managers; law enforcement instructor certification; law enforcement , firearms and defensive tactics instructor, PR 24 baton; sex crimes investigation; troop training coordination certification; FCIC/NCIC certification. He served in state law enforcement for 28 years, beginning his career as a Florida Highway Patrol trooper in Miami and ending his career as a Lieutenant. During his law enforcement career, he has worked in every county in Florida south of Polk County. As a state law enforcement officer, Vent oversaw homicide investigations, served as a district lieutenant, oversaw communications for southwest Florida, and supervised training and evidence for central and southwest Florida. Vent has been an active community volunteer since becoming a volunteer firefighter at the age of 17. He has coached Little League, serving as an umpire, player agent, and president of the league. He chaired the Juvenile Justice Board, served as a mentor for at-risk students at the high school, and has chaperoned countless events. More recently, Vent served on the fair board and has been instrumental in securing grants for improvements and has worked to oversee those improvements. Vent volunteers for the Hardee County Chamber of Commerce, Athletic and Education Foundations. He is a member of the original National Accreditation Committee for the Florida Highway Patrol. Vent currently serves on the United Way Board of Directors.