Tampa Code Enforcement Director, Husband of Ex-Police Chief, Under FDLE Investigation

Investigation into Code Enforcement Director

• 🎯 Keith O'Connor, Tampa's code enforcement director and husband of former Police Chief Mary O'Connor, is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
• 📌 He has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

Origin of the Investigation

• 🔍 The FDLE's inquiry began during an investigation into a code enforcement employee, Aubrey Pierce, who faces charges for accepting bribes and grand theft related to illegal tire dumping on city property.
• 💡 Agents discovered unrelated communications on Pierce's phone between him and his boss, Keith O'Connor, concerning the collection of lottery winnings.

Allegations Regarding Lottery Winnings

• 💰 Sources suggest Pierce was attempting to hide lottery winnings from individuals to whom he owed child support.
• ⚠️ The FDLE is examining O'Connor's potential involvement in arranging the collection of these winnings.
• ⚖️ O'Connor's attorney stated that his client did not profit from the alleged actions.

Previous Controversy and Public Scrutiny

• 🎭 This investigation adds another chapter to the public scrutiny surrounding the O'Connors, referencing a 2022 incident where Mary O'Connor resigned as police chief after a golf cart traffic stop.
• 🏢 The City of Tampa has suspended both O'Connor and Pierce, with O'Connor continuing to receive pay while Pierce is suspended without pay.
• ⏳ The suspensions are pending the results of the FDLE investigation and legal proceedings in Pierce's case.