Gov. Ron DeSantis, flanked by new Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, awarded recruitment bonuses to law enforcement personnel as part of the state’s law enforcement officer recruitment bonus program during a press conference in Tampa on Wednesday.
To show his support for law enforcement, the governor handed out $5,000 checks to 40 Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who joined him and Collins at the press conference. DeSantis also said an additional 715 bonuses were being shipped out to other law enforcement personnel across Florida.
“These are bonuses of $5,000 to any LEO recruit, whether you’re someone that’s young in Florida or new to the profession from within our state, which is the majority of them, or if you're you’re experienced and you’re transferring out of state from Chicago or New York City or Atlanta or wherever—you get a $5,000 bonus as well,” DeSantis said.
As part of his effort to boost law enforcement appeal to the Sunshine State, the governor noted more than 1,900 law enforcement recruits from 49 states and two U.S. territories have relocated to take advantage of Florida's cop friendly policies.
DeSantis added that about a quarter of those officers have come from New York, California, and Illinois. All three states have been scrutinized by Republicans at various points for anti-cop polices and rhetoric coming from local leaders.
"Our state doesn’t just support law enforcement with words; we back them with action," Collins said. "Under @GovRonDeSantis' leadership, we’re taking bold steps to protect our officers and strengthen the quality of their livelihoods."
In New York City, Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who's vying to become the next mayor of the Big Apple, has been criticized for calling the New York Police Department racist, anti‑queer & a major threat to public safety in social posts from 2020.
Mandani also wrote the hashtag #DefundTheNYPD.
With today's announcement, DeSantis said the recruit program has awarded bonuses to 8,700 new law enforcement officers throughout the state. Started by the governor in 2022, the program aims to encourage Floridians to become law enforcement officers, as well as incentivize those currently in the profession from other jurisdictions to relocate to the state.
