DeSantis to run billboards in Chicago recruiting law enforcement to Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida will launch billboards in the Chicago area to incentivize law enforcement officers to move to the Sunshine State.
In the announcement, the governor’s office pointed to Chicago’s “soaring” crime rate, along with Illinois both recently allowing foreign nationals to become police officers and eliminating cash bail.
DeSantis’ office said officers who come to Florida can take advantage of a $5,000-after-taxes signing bonus, which is awarded under the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program.
“Florida strongly supports law enforcement and has consistently enacted commonsense criminal justice policies to keep our communities safe,” DeSantis said. “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,” he said. “I look forward to welcoming the Illinois men and women in blue to the law-and-order state.”
According to the governor’s office, since the 2022 recruitment bonus legislation was signed by DeSantis, more than 2,700 recruits from across the country have moved to Florida. They said more than 230 were from California, New York and Pennsylvania.
So far, 37 came from Illinois.
The move in Illinois comes after DeSantis previously criticized the state for “letting illegal aliens become police officers.” After DeSantis’ criticism, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker fired back.
Pritzker stood by the measure, saying he “proudly” signed the new measure.
“[It allows] legal permanent residents & DACA recipients in IL to serve their communities as police officers,” he said. “Our military already does it & it’s the right thing to do—no matter what lies the right-wing spreads.”
“This man isn’t smart enough to be president,” he said of DeSantis.
In June, DeSantis announced that over 2,265 bonuses had been awarded for law enforcement recruits since the bonus program ended its first year.
“Benefits of becoming a law enforcement officer in Florida include financial stability, upward mobility, excellent health and retirement benefits, student loan forgiveness programs, home loan programs, and more,” the governor’s office said.
