Florida: Governor Ron DeSantis Awards Bonuses to Law Enforcement Recruits, Reaching More Than 9,400 Total
The Floridant/10319469

PANAMA CITY, Fla. ~ Panama City, Fla. - In a press conference today, Governor Ron DeSantis proudly announced that Florida has awarded over 9,400 recruitment bonuses to new law enforcement officers through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program. This latest round of bonuses was specifically distributed to officers serving in the Florida Panhandle region, with an additional 734 bonuses given to recruits across the state.

Launched in 2022, this program is the first of its kind and highlights Florida's commitment to supporting law enforcement. The initiative offers a one-time $5,000 bonus after taxes to newly employed officers as a gesture of appreciation and incentive for choosing to serve in Florida.

During the press conference, Governor DeSantis stated, "Today in Panama City, we welcomed new law enforcement recruits from Bay, Franklin, Gulf, and Walton counties and awarded them $5,000 recruitment bonuses. Many of these officers have relocated from jurisdictions with soft-on-crime policies where criminals are allowed to run rampant and law enforcement is not valued. Here in Florida, our law enforcement officers are supported and appreciated - and criminals are held accountable!"

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Since its inception, the program has attracted over 1,900 law enforcement officers from 49 other states and two territories to relocate to Florida. Of those recruits, more than 600 have come from states known for their anti-police stance such as California, Illinois, and New York. Each of these newly recruited officers has received a $5,000 bonus after taxes for a total distribution of over $63 million.

These bonuses are just one aspect of Governor DeSantis' broader initiative to make Florida the most law-and-order state in the nation. In the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget alone, he secured $49 million for pay increases for over 16,200 state sworn law enforcement officers. The minimum base pay was also raised to $60,000 with significant raises for both entry-level and veteran officers. The state has also implemented various measures to support the well-being of law enforcement officers, including expanding wellness resources, enhancing penalties for crimes against officers, introducing law enforcement education programs in high schools, and launching the Florida Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship Program to cover training costs for new recruits.

Aside from the $5,000 recruitment bonus, becoming a Florida law enforcement officer comes with numerous benefits such as financial stability, opportunities for career advancement, excellent health and retirement benefits, student loan forgiveness programs, and home loan programs.

For more information about the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program, interested individuals can visit FloridaJobs.org/Recognition-and-Recruitment.

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