Overall Crime is Not Up Under DeSantis, FDLE Report Shows

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Monday night, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democrat Charlie Crist faced off in a debate in their battle to win Florida governor in November.

Amongst the political attacks made, Crist claimed crime is up under the DeSantis Administration. He used it to question DeSantis’ repeated vows to ensure state law is enforced.

“What you need to do is have somebody as an Attorney General […] It’s important to make sure that not only with the drug problem we’re dealing but also all the laws and crime. Crime is up under Governor DeSantis, crime was down when I was your governor because we enforced the laws and made sure Floridians were safe,” he said. “I already told you we need to secure the border.”

Overall crime in Florida has decreased consistently for most of its recent history, including during both Crist’s and DeSantis’ tenure as governor.

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, overall crime is not up under DeSantis.

The 2020 statewide Florida crime report found that the total percent change of overall index crime, which includes violent and property crime, was down 13.9% from 2019 to 2020. Property crime decreased 16.8%, while violent crime increased 2.7%.

Responding to Crist’s attack, DeSantis slammed the Democrat for supporting “reallocating funding away from the police.” The Florida GOP uploaded a video this summer of Crist expressing that opinion.

DeSantis said “you don’t want a social worker to help you” when faced with violence or robbery. “He used to be tough on crime six political parties ago […] People are moving to Florida because we’re a much safer state.”

Crist is endorsed by the left-wing activist group Florida Rising, which was denounced by more than 30 Florida sheriffs for “defund the police” rhetoric that they say leads to “unspeakable violence against officers.”

“Recent years have forced out of the shadows a radical agenda to demonize law enforcement, and given voice to dangerous attempts to defund and defame the police. Both have led to unspeakable violence against officers in our state and across the country,” the memo from sheriffs said. “Florida Rising is a self-described socialist organization that espouses anti-law enforcement sentiments and believes in defunding the police as the only way to keep our communities safe.”

Read more about Monday’s debate here.