State Attorney Lawson Lamar on His Last Day in Office
Monday, January 7, 2013
By: Nicole Creston

January 7, 2012 | WMFE - After serving nearly 25 years as Orange-Osceola State Attorney, Lawson Lamar left office Monday. A few hours before the end of his last work day, he spoke to 90.7's Nicole Creston about his proudest moments in law enforcement, and what's next for him.

Click the Play Audio button to hear Lawson Lamar's full "exit interview" with 90.7's Nicole Creston

Lawson Lamar became State Attorney for Orange and Osceola Counties in 1989, after working as a prosecutor then serving two terms as Orange County Sheriff. He says the Orlando area was changing when he started in law enforcement, and Lamar went straight to work. 

“We saw the influx of some organized crime and other corrupt elements, and I started to work to found the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation in 1974.” The MBI is still going, and Lamar says it’s the longest-running agency of its kind in the country. 

He lists the MBI among his proudest achievements, along with items like starting programs for pre-trial diversion and for reducing juvenile crime, and holding a record for trying more cases than any other State Attorney’s office in Florida. 

As for what’s next for Lamar, he says, “I’ve been on call for 40 years, and before that, I had Vietnam. So I’m going to take a break.” 

Lamar’s replacement Jeff Ashton was voted into office in August and officially takes over Tuesday.