Fort Lauderdale, Florida/USA – April 17, 2020: Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis Press Conference – Photo by YES Market Media
Following Illinois’ approval of allowing non-citizens to become cops and its elimination of cash bail, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office is putting up billboards there to persuade law enforcement officers in the state to “make the smart move” to Florida.
“Citizenship Matters. Law Enforcement Matters,” the billboards in greater Chicago say. “Make the Smart Move to Florida!”
The law enforcement recruitment incentive payment scheme, which the Republican governor signed into law in 2022, offers a $5,000 signing bonus to out-of-state police officers who migrate to the Sunshine State.
In a statement, DeSantis referenced Illinois’ efforts to end its cash bail system and permit some noncitizens to work as police officers, both of which DeSantis’ administration has opposed.
“Florida strongly supports law enforcement and has consistently enacted commonsense criminal justice policies to keep our communities safe,” said DeSantis, who is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
“We stand behind our citizen officers, and we give them the tools to succeed professionally and personally. Other states deputize noncitizens, 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.”
Despite objections from Republicans and some police groups, an Illinois law that will no longer require citizenship to become a police officer will take effect in 2024.
The bill “provides that an individual who is not a citizen but is legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law is authorized to apply for the position of police officer, subject to all requirements and limitations, other than citizenship, to which other applicants are subject.”
It further states that in order to apply for the position, non-citizens must be able to legally obtain, carry, buy, or otherwise possess a pistol under federal law.
Cash bail will be abolished as of January 1 as well, despite court challenges from county sheriffs and prosecutors who claimed the rule was unconstitutional, compromised public safety, and endangered law enforcement. Pretrial detention will now be determined, according to Governor J.B. Pritzker, by “the danger an individual poses to the community instead of by their ability to pay their way out of jail.”
The state of Florida is seeing benefits from its recruitment effort. According to DeSantis’ office, more than 2,700 law enforcement candidates have signed up as part of the recruitment campaign, including 750 from 48 states. There are 230 people from California, New York, and Pennsylvania among them. A minimum of 37 people left Illinois.
DeSantis also conducted a pro-police campaign tour in Democratic-controlled areas including Elmhurst, Illinois, which is close to Chicago, and Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.
“Anybody who’s interested in coming down,” he said at the event in Chicago. “If you want to be part of our law enforcement community, just know that the door is open.”
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Mike has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and public relations. He once owned his own agency and has worked with some of the largest brands in the world.
