Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

File photo

Crime News

Ron DeSantis Starts Running Ads in Chicago to Recruit Law Enforcement Officers to Florida

Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the state of Florida is launching billboards in the Greater Chicago Area to recruit law enforcement officers to the Sunshine State.

Through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program, out-of-state police officers who relocate to Florida will receive a $5,000 signing bonus.

Under Illinois law, foreign nationals are now able to become police officers. Additionally, earlier this year, Illinois became the first state to completely eliminate its cash bail system. DeSantis said his record contrasts with this, including signing a law that protects Floridians from these “bail reform” policies.

“Florida strongly supports law enforcement and has consistently enacted commonsense criminal justice policies to keep our communities safe,” said DeSantis. “We stand behind our citizen officers, and we give them the tools to succeed professionally and personally. Other states deputize non-citizens, enact policies that favor criminals over victims, and work to overtly or covertly defund the police, but not in Florida. I look forward to welcoming the Illinois men and women in blue to the law-and-order state.”

In late July, the governor of Illinois signed legislation that allows noncitizens to become police officers. Specifically, the bill states foreign nationals who “are legally authorized under federal law to work in the United States” or any foreign national who “is an individual against whom immigration action has been deferred by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals process” can apply to become a police officer in the state.

<

In 2022, DeSantis signed the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program, which was designed to encourage Floridians to join the profession and attract out-of-state recruits or experienced officers to relocate to Florida. The program administers one-time bonus payments of $5,000 after taxes to each eligible newly employed officer within the state.

To date, more than 2,700 law enforcement recruits have joined the profession, including 750 from 48 states and two U.S. territories have relocated to Florida, including more than 230 recruits from California, New York, and Pennsylvania, and more than 37 from Illinois. Each of the more than 2,300 law enforcement officers has received a $5,000 bonus after taxes, bringing the total amount awarded through the program to more than $15 million to date.

In addition to a $5,000 recruitment bonus, the benefits of becoming a law enforcement officer in Florida include health and retirement benefits, student loan forgiveness programs, home loan programs, and more.

Author

  • Florida Daily offers news, insights and analysis as we cover the most important issues in the state, from education, to business and politics.

    View all posts

Archives

Related Articles

Political News

A bill known as the “Pam Rock Act” has passed both the Florida Senate and Florida House. It awaits the signature or veto of...

Popular Stories

Governor Ron DeSantis announced more than $14.5 million through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (JGGF) to support infrastructure improvements and workforce training across...

Florida Government & Politics

TALLAHASSEE — Despite strong opposition from Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida House approved a bill on Wednesday aimed at diminishing the governor’s power in...

Florida Government & Politics

Florida TaxWatch has been monitoring the latest tax relief proposals working their way through the 2025 Florida Legislature.Property Taxes or Sales Tax?The House Ways...

Advertisement
Florida Daily
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

HOW WE COLLECT E-MAIL INFORMATION:

If you sign up to subscribe to Florida Daily’s e-mail newsletter, you will provide us your e-mail address and name, voluntarily, and we will never obtain any of your contact information that you don’t voluntarily provide.

HOW WE USE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS IF YOU VOLUNTARILY PROVIDE IT TO US:

If you voluntarily provide us with your name and email address, we will use it to send you one email update per weekday. Your email address will not be given to any third parties.

YOUR CONTROLS:

You will have the option to unsubscribe to our E-mail update at anytime by clicking an unsubscribe link that will be provided in each E-Mail we send.