Leaders from Osceola County and the new Sheriff's Office leadership are coming together to perform a forensic audit on the law enforcement agency, which the county will pay for, officials said Thursday.
According to a statement from the county, County Manager Don Fisher met with interim Sheriff Christopher Blackmon, who Gov. Ron DeSantis named to the post after former Sheriff Marcos Lopez was arrested on racketeering charges related to an alleged gambling operation spanning Osceola and Lake counties.
Their discussions centered on the Sheriff's Office and its budget, which will soon be under County review during the budget process for fiscal year 2025-26 and will be approved this fall.
"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," the county statement said. "The ultimate decision to engage the auditor remains in Sheriff Blackmon’s purview."
When reached for comment, County Manager Fisher noted the conversation centered on Blackmon's wish for the audit.
"We discussed who has experience for law enforcement and forensic (audits). He wasn't certain where his budget stood, and that's when (the county) offered to cover the cost," Fisher said.
