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 due to the Governor’s commitment to law and order.
“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 significant 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; $8.5 million went toward expanding the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) in Florida program for the second year.
- $2 million for FDLE grants for new body armor across state law enforcement.
- More than $17 million for enhancing important criminal databases like Biometric Identification Solution (BIS), Missing and Endangered Person Information Clearinghouse, Alcohol Testing Program, and Statewide Sexual Assault Tracking System.
- $40 million for enhanced 911 call services.
Earlier this year, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 718 providing criminal penalties for those exposing first responders to dangerous substances like fentanyl.
Additionally, he signed the Combatting Public Disorder Act in 2021 prohibiting police defunding.
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