Florida has been hiring officers from all of the other states through an incentive program that offers more than just cash. It offers a more supportive work environment.
“Florida is the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation because we back our blue,” state Attorney General Ashley Moody told the New York Post.
“We’ve been spreading the word about all the great incentives to join our ranks, and individuals like the new Sarasota recruits have answered the call – leaving behind places where their service was not as appreciated as it is here.”
New recruit Sarasota Police Officer Andrew Capozzi said he left New York for Florida because “protecting and serving in New York became increasingly difficult over the past several years, as some leaders turned their backs on law enforcement and flawed criminal justice policies allowed many defendants back out on the street within hours of being arrested,” according to a statement from Moody’s office.
In addition to “backing the blue,” the state is using money to entice cops from other areas.
Through a new Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program created by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state legislature that first launched in April 2022, new recruits receive a $5,000 bonus after taxes.
