Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez was born in Chicago and raised in Central Florida. He is a proud father of three healthy children, two of whom are U.C.F. graduates. He originally joined the U.S. military when he was only 17 and completed 22 years of service. One of his primary drivers for joining the military was the inspirational leadership exhibited by his grandfather, who gallantly served during World War I.
Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez began his career with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office in 2003 while serving in the Navy Reserve and after obtaining an associate degree in criminal justice. During his 20-year tenure, Sheriff Lopez has worked in various operational and administrative capacities, including the Communications and Patrol Divisions, Criminal Investigations, and the Community Response Team. Sheriff Lopez has been recognized with several awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Meritorious Service Award by the U.S. Navy, History Maker, and Community Champion by the Florida House of Representatives, Public Service Award by Premios El Josco, and First Responder Essential Worker by the Florida Puerto Rican Parade.
Honors and Affiliations: Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
Sheriff Marcos Lopez graduated from the Police Academy at the Technical Educational Center of Osceola. During military service, his primary occupational specialty was 9545, a linguist proficient in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. While serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit provided security for the military and civilians in convoys. He was specifically tasked with assisting the South Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese military troops entering the Middle East and transitioning to Baghdad, Iraq. In addition to the various trainings available during combat, he became explosive ordinance certified, certified in counterterrorism, and supervised logistical operations during combat and peacetime.
Sheriff Marcos Lopez was sworn in on January 5, 2021, on the steps of Osceola County’s Historic Courthouse. He made history by becoming the first Hispanic Sheriff in the county and the State of Florida.
Since 2021, Sheriff Marcos Lopez has implemented a Real Time Crime Center and new specialty units, including the Tactical Anti-Crime Unit, Osceola County Narcotics Bureau, and a Fugitive Extradition Program or Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U.) with Puerto Rico. Other initiatives implemented by Sheriff Lopez include the Juveniles Unleashing Maximum Potential (J.U.M.P.). This program creates mentorship between juveniles and deputies.
He also launched the Women on Watch Initiative (which is the first-ever all-female police academy), the Osceola County Sheriff’s Mobile Office, a Mental Health Division, an Antibullying-program, Veterans Initiating Change Through an Organized Response (V.I.C.T.O.R.) Board, a Community Advisory Board of Enforcement Standards, a Juvenile Outreach Unit, a Police Athletic League, a Safe Place Program, Project Lifesaver, Project EASE, and the Osceola Sheriff Foundation. Sheriff Lopez has also improved response time to Spanish-speaking citizens by creating and implementing a Spanish-speaking translators/call-takers program.
Sheriff Marcos Lopez enjoys spending time with Osceola County residents and visitors. He is always ready to fulfill his duty and serve and protect all community members. He is passionate about creating connections between kids and law enforcement and fighting crime in Osceola County.