Florida is continuing to show its support for the men and women in blue. Speaking at a press conference in Panama City, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more than 9,400 officers have been awarded recruitment bonuses through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program.
Gov. DeSantis issued today's round of bonuses to officers serving in the Panhandle region, including some at the conference's location in Bay County. He also noted an additional 734 bonuses going to recruits across the state.
“Today in Panama City, we welcomed new law enforcement recruits from Bay, Franklin, Gulf, and Walton counties and awarded them $5,000 recruitment bonuses,” DeSantis said in a statement. “Many new officers across the state moved to Florida from soft-on-crime jurisdictions, where prosecutors allow crime to run rampant and local politicians denigrate law enforcement. Here in Florida, law enforcement officers are supported and appreciated—and criminals are held accountable!”
Started in 2022, Florida's Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program provides a one-time $5,000 bonus for those who choose to come and honorably serve in the state. The program also 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.
According to the governor's office, over 1,900 law enforcement officers from 49 other states and territories have come to the Sunshine State as a result of the policy. The office also said anti-police messaging from leaders in California, Illinois, and New York has helped fuel the surge in relocations.
In New York City, Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who's vying to become the next mayor of the Big Apple, was criticized for calling the New York Police Department racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety in social media posts following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
Mandani also wrote the hashtag #DefundTheNYPD.
In contrast, Florida has paid out more than $63 million to some of its bravest to date. Gov. DeSantis also issued recruitment bonuses to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies back in August.
