Florida surpasses 6,400 bonuses for new police recruits

Florida surpassed giving 6,400 bonuses to new law enforcement recruits in November.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida was making 300 new bonus awards to law enforcement officers this month, reaching the milestone of 6,400 bonuses awarded to new recruits through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program.

“Florida welcomes law enforcement officers from across the country to a state where they will be recognized and appreciated,” DeSantis said. “Florida celebrates the law enforcement profession and encourages people to join the force. Law enforcement officers make enormous personal sacrifices for the communities they serve, and they deserve higher pay and more support.”

The latest round of 300 bonuses were awarded to officers serving in counties impacted by hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.

DeSantis launched the program in 2022 after blue states began implementing anti-police initiatives including defunding their police departments.

Florida’s recruitment bonus program provides a one-time, $5,000 bonus – after taxes – to newly employed officers in the state. So far, more than $43.3 million worth of bonuses have been distributed through the program.

To date, more than 1,560 law enforcement officers from 49 states and two territories have relocated to Florida because of the program. More than 470 came “from anti-police states like California, Illinois, and New York,” according to the governor’s office.

The 6,400 milestone is a significant increase from when DeSantis in February presented the 4,000th bonus check to a Bay County Sheriff’s deputy who relocated from Virginia to take advantage of the program.

In July, Attorney General Ashley Moody also welcomed new police officers to Florida after they relocated from Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico and New York, The Center Square reported.

“Florida is the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation because we back our blue,” Moody said. “We’ve been spreading the word about all the great incentives to join our ranks, and individuals like the new Sarasota recruits have answered the call – leaving behind places where their service was not as appreciated as it is here.”

“This is a law-and-order state. Officers want to be able to do their job,” Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche said at the time with Moody, noting that his office has greatly benefitted from new recruits. “There is no better feeling than when you know that you can go out there and be supported in enforcing the law. I’ve talked with officers all around the country and when state attorneys are not assisting them, it makes those officers not want to do their jobs. Thanks to the work of Attorney General Moody and Gov. DeSantis, officers know that when you come to the state of Florida, you are going to be able to do, and be supported in, doing your job.”

DeSantis has argued that communities are struggling nationwide in jurisdictions where politicians embraced defunding law enforcement and “soft on crime policies” like implementing no cash bail. In 2020, the Florida legislature passed protections against defunding law enforcement and began allocating funding to give law enforcement officers $1,000 bonuses for three consecutive years. In 2022, the recruitment program was created. Every legislative session, funding is renewed for the program.

Moody also launched several pro-law enforcement initiatives, including the Thin Line Tribute and Sunshine Salute Series to recognize those in law enforcement statewide.

In addition to the new recruit bonus program, law enforcement officers may be eligible for the Hometown Heroes Housing Program, which provides frontline workers in more than 100 eligible professions with down payment and closing cost assistance to help purchase a primary residence in the communities where they work.

Those interested in applying can find more information here.