Termination of code enforcement chief follows August arrest of staffer and echoes a 2022 controversy involving his spouse.
TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa officials fired Code Enforcement Director Keith O’Connor on Tuesday after state investigators reviewed evidence that he cashed a $20,000 lottery ticket for an employee who owed child support, according to the city. Prosecutors declined charges, but the city cited professionalism and integrity standards in removing the longtime administrator.
The ouster caps a turbulent stretch for the department that began when code enforcement services attendant Aubrey Pierce was arrested in August on felony counts linked to alleged illegal dumping on city property. While pursuing that case, detectives uncovered messages suggesting Pierce asked his boss to redeem a winning ticket to avoid state seizure of the proceeds. The incident placed the office that polices blight, permitting and nuisance violations under a spotlight, raising questions about oversight and the expectations for top city managers.
According to officials briefed on the case, investigators obtained texts and call logs between O’Connor and Pierce discussing the lottery payout. People familiar with the inquiry said Pierce, hired in February 2023, faced delinquent child-support obligations and believed cashing the ticket himself would result in garnishment. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reviewed the material and closed its case without recommending charges. The State Attorney’s Office later declined to prosecute, saying the evidence did not meet the standard required for a likely conviction. The city, operating under employment rules, determined the conduct fell short of what is required of a director who manages field inspectors and complaint-driven enforcement citywide. Pierce remains on paid suspension pending a disciplinary hearing; he has pleaded not guilty to bribery and litter charges and is contesting other counts.
Tuesday’s decision also revived memories of a 2022 episode that ended the tenure of O’Connor’s wife, Mary O’Connor, as Tampa police chief. Body camera video of a November 2022 traffic stop in Oldsmar showed her identifying herself as chief as a deputy questioned the couple about an untagged golf cart driven on a public road. After an internal review found policy violations, she resigned on Dec. 5, 2022. While the incidents are separate, the back-to-back controversies have intensified public scrutiny of City Hall leadership and the culture expected of those in charge of high-visibility enforcement work.
City records indicate O’Connor was placed on paid administrative leave in late September while FDLE examined the lottery-ticket matter and while police pursued the dumping investigation that led to Pierce’s August arrest. The termination followed internal consultations with human resources and the city’s legal office. Officials did not specify where the $20,000 ticket was redeemed or which lottery game it involved. They said the ticket was not alleged to be stolen and that the criminal case against Pierce pertains to alleged bribe-taking and misuse of city resources unrelated to the ticket itself. A spokesperson said the department’s field operations would continue without interruption under an acting director while the city selects an interim leader.
On Wednesday morning, inspectors gathered for routine briefings at the code enforcement yard as residents filed complaints about post-holiday debris. “We’re focused on today’s route maps,” one supervisor said, declining to be named because he was not authorized to speak publicly. A neighborhood association president described the dismissal as “a necessary move to restore trust,” adding that residents expect “clean processes” when staff interact with contractors and property owners. Reached at a listed number, a person identified as a relative of Pierce declined comment; attempts to reach O’Connor were not successful.
Next, the city will hold Pierce’s disciplinary hearing, expected in mid-December, to determine whether he remains employed. The State Attorney’s Office said it will reassess if new evidence emerges. FDLE has closed its review, and City Hall said it plans to brief the City Council on interim leadership at an upcoming meeting. For now, the director’s office is vacant, Pierce is suspended, and Tampa’s code enforcement crews are back in the field.
Author note: Last updated December 4, 2025.