TALLAHASSEE – In an effort to attract officers from other states, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced initiatives aimed at supporting law enforcement officers, including a law enforcement bonus program for new recruits in Florida.
The governor spoke in Tallahassee on Tuesday and was joined by First Lady Casey DeSantis, along with dozens of Florida sheriffs.
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“If you come to Florida and you’re new to Florida, you get a $5,000 signing bonus,” DeSantis explained.
In addition to recruitment bonuses, DeSantis mentioned the state’s ongoing support for existing officers.
“We did $1,000 bonuses three years in a row for every sworn law enforcement officer in the state of Florida,” he said.
DeSantis explained that those bonuses were intended to show appreciation for the officers’ service, especially during challenging economic times.
He also highlighted the state’s response to the riots during the summer of 2020, asserting that Florida did not experience the same level of chaos seen in other cities.
The governor also discussed the Florida Law Enforcement Academy scholarship program, which covers tuition fees for eligible candidates.
In February, the governor called on Florida lawmakers to increase pay for state law enforcement and firefighters. As part of a $115.6 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, DeSantis specified $118.3 million could be set aside for the pay increases.
