Florida Governor awards $10 million in police recruitment bonuses

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has awarded more than $10 million in bonuses to 1,506 new law enforcement officers through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program. The latest distribution includes 38 recruits in Pasco County.

Under this initiative, which was established in 2022, individual bonuses can reach up to $5,000. The state covers the associated taxes so that recipients receive the full amount. The program aims to attract experienced officers from other states and encourage new recruits to enter the profession.

Since the program's inception in 2022, nearly 12,500 officers across Florida have received bonuses, totaling more than $83 million in cumulative payouts. The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen law enforcement recruitment and retention within the state.