ORLANDO, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the Florida Sheriffs Association to reaffirm Florida’s support for law enforcement. In Florida, crime remains at a 50-year low thanks to the Governor’s commitment to law and order. To watch his full remarks, click here.
“As long as I am Governor, Florida will support our law enforcement officers and ensure they have the resources they need,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Florida is the national model of a law-and-order state.”
"For a state and its residents to feel safe, strong leadership is essential, and in Florida, we have a Governor who not only believes in law and order but also shows action to implement his belief," said Florida Sheriffs Association President and Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. "The sheriffs want to thank Governor DeSantis for joining us at the Summer Conference to discuss important matters, including the harms of the legalization of marijuana, which will greatly impact the public safety and health of families in the near future."
Florida’s Law Enforcement Recruitment Program provides bonuses of $5,000 after taxes to new recruits and officers who relocate to Florida from other states. Over 5,400 new recruits have taken advantage of the program and moved to the Sunshine State. That amounts to more than $36 million awarded to date.
Last month, Governor DeSantis signed the Focus on Florida’s Future Budget which made important investments in public safety and enhanced law enforcement tools and benefits. These investments included:
- $9.3 million to support efforts to combat the opioid epidemic affecting Florida’s communities, of which $8.5 million of this went toward expanding the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) in Florida program for the second year. These funds will continue to assist local law enforcement in combatting the illicit trafficking and sale of fentanyl within Florida.
- $2 million for FDLE to provide grants for new body armor to men and women of law enforcement across the state.
- More than $17 million for the enhancement of important Florida criminal databases, including the Biometric Identification Solution (BIS) database, the Missing and Endangered Person Information Clearinghouse, the Alcohol Testing Program, and the Statewide Sexual Assault Tracking System.
- $40 million for enhanced 911 call services.
Earlier this year, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 718, which provides criminal penalties for someone who exposes a first responder to dangerous substances like fentanyl in their possession.
Additionally, Governor DeSantis signed the Combatting Public Disorder Act in 2021, which prohibits the defunding of police.