West Palm Beach-March 31, 2022: Governor Ron DeSantis was in West Palm Beach Thursday to announce a boost in pay for every law enforcement officer and first responder in the state. It’s the second year in a row that they’ll be getting $1,000 bonuses.
The Governor made the announcement at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in West Palm Beach, surrounded by law enforcement officers. "I have approved the line item that will allow us to do a second round of $1,000 bonuses for every single sworn law enforcement officer in the state of Florida.” First responders, paramedics, EMT’s and firefighters employed by local governments will get the bonus along with police officers, sheriff’s deputies throughout the state.
“Look the money is nice. I mean you’re not going to be a millionaire as a police officer," said the Governor. "Its public service. You are sacrificing other opportunities. But you (know) the state of Florida, the legislature and the Governor, they stand behind what (you're) doing.”
The state budget surplus is providing the means and the Governor said he choose to provide a second year of bonuses to counter-act the effects of rising inflation and to send a message amidst calls to de-fund law enforcement in other parts of the country. “In Florida we never backed down from our support of law enforcement, not one inch.”