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Sheriff Marco Lopez, center, speaks during a media briefing on Friday.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office will be increasing patrols on the street and sending a support unit to Tallahassee on Wednesday to help maintain peace for Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Sheriff Marco Lopez said at a press conference on Friday that he was contacted by Leon County officials about sending support to the state capitol. It will be a 12-man unit, two deputies per patrol car. The request comes after a mob of supporters of President Trump rioted in the Capitol on Jan. 6, forcing lawmakers to evacuate.
Locally, Lopez said he would work to protect the public from any “civil unrest.”
He said his agency has not received any intelligence that such unlawful activity would occur in Osceola County.
“We are going to beef up our patrol measures and our security in case something does happen,” Lopez said.
That would call for extra patrol cars on the street.
“We’re here for you,” Lopez said. “We are going to keep you safe.”
He added that he had no problem with peaceful protests.
“That is your Constitutional right,” Lopez said. “Once you start breaking windows and damaging property, you become a criminal, you’re crossed that line and we are going to have to take action.”
Thousands of National Guard troops are currently stationed in Washington, D.C., to secure Joe Biden’s inauguration, according to published reports. Biden will be expected to take the oath of office at around noon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC.
