In the wake of the arrest of former Sheriff Marcos Lopez for involvement in an illegal gambling operation, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is gearing up for a comprehensive forensic audit. Lopez, charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, was suspended from his office and later released on a hefty $1 million bond. The spotlight now turns to Interim Sheriff Christopher Blackmon, who spearheads the audit’s initiation.
After a meeting between Blackmon and Osceola County Manager Don Fisher, an agreement was reached to finance a specialized auditor to investigate the Sheriff’s Office. “During these discussions, Sheriff Blackmon expressed interest in having a forensic audit conducted regarding certain aspects of the Sheriff’s Office, and the County Manager agreed to provide the funds necessary to engage a qualified auditor that specializes in law enforcement and forensic audits,” stated the County in a release provided to WESH. While the impetus for this audit stems from the controversy surrounding Lopez, the ultimate call to commence with the auditing process rests with Blackmon…