The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners has approved an $80,000 funding request from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office to build out two employee fitness centers using federal asset forfeiture funds.
The request, submitted by Tatiana Abernathy, authorizes an advance disbursement through the federal Equitable Sharing Program, a system that allows local agencies to receive a portion of seized assets from federal investigations.
According to county documents, the funds will be used to purchase fitness equipment from multiple vendors for two separate gym locations: one inside the Sheriff’s Office Fleet Building on Eglin Parkway in Shalimar, and another at the Public Safety Training Center in Crestview.
Officials say the program is intended to strengthen cooperation between federal and local law enforcement agencies by reinvesting forfeiture proceeds into resources that support operations and personnel.
The Sheriff’s Office will provide invoices and proof of payment for all purchases and will return any unused funds to the county.
With approval secured, the project is expected to move forward as equipment purchases begin in the coming months.
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