Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $5,000 in bonuses after taxes to 1,500 new law enforcement officers as part of Florida's ongoing commitment to backing the blue while speaking at a press conference at the Pasco Sheriff's Office Training Facility in Land O' Lakes in Pasco County this week.
The bonuses include 38 new officers in Pasco County.
"I hope that when you're coming into law enforcement, I hope the $5,000 helps with the economic realities that Americans have had to deal with in the last five or six years with respect to inflation because it's not an easy thing to deal with, so that's important," DeSantis said. "But I also think that the checks are really a testament to the state of Florida supporting and having the backs of the people that wear the uniform."
Gov. DeSantis, with help from the Florida Legislature, launched the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program in 2022.
The program has since helped nearly 12,500 new law enforcement officers with bonus checks totaling over $83 million.
"This is a way to put your money where your mouth is. We know it's important, and we know that this is something that will make our community safer," DeSantis said.Â
Gov. DeSantis issued $5 million in recruitment bonuses to nearly 800 new officers across the state in March. He also handed out recruitment bonuses to new Hillsborough County deputies and new Florida Panhandle officers in 2025.
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco thanked DeSantis for his support.
"It really matters when the head coach of the state of Florida, who's the governor - with the team in place that he supports the team, and that's what he's absolutely done," Nocco said.Â
Sheriff Nocco also acknowledged the economic realities officers face.
"We shop at the same supermarkets everybody else does. We pump gas at the same place everybody else does. Our kids play sports, so we know what's it's like that we have to get new cleats for every season, new things, and we know the costs are going up," Nocco continued. "The fact that the governor is leading the effort to make sure that there's more money in the pockets for people to get into law enforcement, that is absolutely critical."
