DeSantis Announces $1.5 Million Incentive Increase for New Police Recruits

Photo by Governor Ron DeSantis, Facebook

Are you interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement? Good news, more bonuses were just added for new recruits in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis’s official website posted a press release with the details on November 22. 

The announcement says that Florida is creating “300 new bonus awards to Law Enforcement Officers” for a record of 6,400 bonuses “awarded to new law enforcement recruits through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program”. The most recent 300 bonuses were given to officers who serve in counties heavily impacted by the effects of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. 

This “first-of-its-kind initiative”, which was launched in 2022, gives a one-time sum of $5,000 “after taxes—to newly employed officers in the state”. This means that the actual amount granted is $6,694, but $1,694 of this sum goes to taxes. The total value of the additional 300 bonuses before taxes is over $2 million, and the value after taxes is $1.5 million.

Currently, to be eligible, an officer must have been certified after July 1, 2022, and must be currently maintaining “continuous full-time employment with a Florida law enforcement agency for at least two consecutive years” with breaks lasting no “longer than 15 calendar days”.

This program is referred to as being a “part of Florida’s strongest-in-the-nation support for law enforcement”. DeSantis stated that “Florida welcomes law enforcement officers from across the country to a state where they will be recognized and appreciated…Florida celebrates the law enforcement profession and encourages people to join the force”.

According to the release, as of November 22, “more than 1,560 law enforcement officers from 49 other states and two territories have relocated to Florida, with more than 470 coming from anti-police states”.

Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly added, “This program showcases the state’s commitment to rewarding the heroic work law enforcement officers do. These brave men and women are on the front lines, allowing safe communities to thrive.”

Furthermore, the release says that on top of the “$5,000 recruitment bonus, benefits of becoming a Florida law enforcement officer includes financial stability, upward mobility, excellent health and retirement benefits, student loan forgiveness programs, home loan programs, and more”.
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Article by Ema Tibbetts