State Attorney Suzy Lopez: The column the Tampa Bay Times refused to run

Suzy Lopez is the state attorney for Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022 to replace former State Attorney Andrew Warren.

TAMPA, Fla. – Just over one year ago, I learned that Gov. Ron DeSantis planned to suspend Andrew Warren for his disregard of Florida’s laws.

I was asked to take over the Office of the State Attorney to restore the rule of law to Hillsborough County.

At the time I was a county court judge, having served as an assistant state attorney for 17 years. I didn’t know how badly Andrew Warren had mishandled his prosecutorial duties.

Andrew spent a lot of time huddled up in his office worried about pushing progressive policies. I have instead focused on enforcing the law. 

A leader cannot enforce the law from the comfort of their office. I spend my days in the courthouse making sure my team has the resources they need to keep violent criminals behind bars.

I meet with victims during their court hearings. I conduct weekly meetings with our law enforcement partners to analyze crime trends and keep track of violent offenders. I go to homicide scenes on all corners of our county, at all hours of the night.

The relationship between this agency and the men and women who protect us is of utmost importance to our office’s mission of public safety. 

I have also focused on several high-profile court cases over the last year. My office has resolved cases that Andrew let linger without regard for the pain each new court hearing brought to the victims’ loved ones. The families of the Seminole Heights killer were forced to trudge through the court system for six long years before we ensured he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

In Andrew’s six years in office, he never stepped foot in the courthouse to litigate a single case.

During this first year, I personally sought and obtained a death sentence for the murderer of Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz. I have handled motions and emotional sentencings consoling family members as their case draws to a close.

Perhaps most telling, Andrew’s way of consoling families was sending a cold, meaningless form letter in the mail. I knew we owed our victims more. 

I now meet personally with the families of each homicide victim. I have formed strong bonds with 37 families to let them know exactly who is fighting on behalf of their loved ones. Holding criminals accountable while empowering those who no longer have a voice is my passion as the State Attorney. 

I want the people I serve to know that dangerous criminals no longer get a pass on my watch, no matter their age. We must tackle the teen gun violence that plagues our neighborhoods by joining hands with community leaders to better educate our youth about making smart choices.

No matter what side of the aisle you are on, we can all agree that kids need mentors, a safe place to live, and family support- not guns. Continuing to connect with victims of violence and creating meaningful partnerships are my top priorities moving into my second year in office.

Andrew’s top priority is to increase his name recognition. One year out of office now, Andrew wants people to sympathize with his plight the way he sympathizes with criminals.

He wants you to believe he- like the criminals he failed to hold accountable- are just good people who made a few bad decisions. Our governor suspended him because Andrew didn’t follow the law he swore to uphold. Two courts have upheld that suspension.

The bottom line is people don’t care about Andrew’s court case that he lost not once, but twice. What they really care about is living in a safe neighborhood.

They want to know when their car is broken into or their small business is vandalized, the person responsible for the crime will be held accountable. They want murderers and child rapists in prison and drug dealers off the streets.

I have promised to hold people accountable, and I have delivered – not just because I am right and Andrew is wrong, but because it is the best way to keep our community safe.