As the “defund the police” movement sweeps the nation, conservatives are looking for ways to ensure that officers know that there is a large percentage of people that still value their contribution.
It should go without saying that someone willing to die for a stranger is a person that communities should not only value and appreciate, but communicate that value and appreciation to. However, far too often we have seen just the opposite, and that is something many wish to rectify.
From ribbons to flags to blue stripes and gifts of food and other gifts are given to local police, individuals have attempted to make LEOs know they’re appreciated. However, all of that can be nullified if the leadership in a town or state goes out of their way to placate progressives, or lets the actions of a few corrupt the all to the crucial office of law enforcement.
Because conservatives are so acutely aware of the important role that police and other law enforcement play in our nation today, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis (FL) has found a way to entice the best of the best to make his state their home, simultaneously sticking it to liberals, and, scoring points with conservatives, and best of all, keeping his home state of Florida safe and sound with an enhanced police presence.
How was this pulled off you might ask? It was through an announcement made during a speech at Green Cove Springs, according to Florida Politics. The Republican governor said he wanted to welcome police officers from other states to make Florida their home. He pointed to his state’s work culture for law enforcement and assured any officers listening that they “back the blue.”
“If you have a chance to do law enforcement in Florida versus some of these other jurisdictions, you’re much better off in Florida because we’ll actually stand by law enforcement,” DeSantis said.
The Republican politician said that the lack of support for law enforcement combined with the weak policies where you’re letting people out” and not “prosecuting people who are committing habitual offenses,” as the factors fueling “huge spikes in crime in many parts of the country.”
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno indicated that DeSantis’ statement wasn’t made in vain. According to the officer’s comments to WBBH-TV in Fort Myers, there have been inquiries from all over the nation from officers considering a posting in the Sunshine state.
“Other officers in New York and different places ask if we have any openings. They want to transfer down,” Marceno told the outlet.“No one wants to work where they’re not supported,” he said.“We have some vacancies but we’re not looking to just fill a vacancy. We’re looking for the right people and we’re not going to lower the bar,” Marceno added.
One of the largest cities in the Southwest of Florida, Cape Coral, has reportedly been “inundated” by people who wish to work for their police department, according to the television news outlet. “We have a waiting list of people we’re vetting and our hiring is constant. We’re always looking for job applications,” Corp. Phil Mullen of the Cape Coral Police Department told the outlet.
The one drawback for some officers joining could be the current pay scale. However, DeSantis has a plan for that as well. Cape Coral is among the highest-paying police departments in the state and it’s starting annual salaries of only about $40,000 for trainees and $56,000 for experienced officers.
DeSantis acknowledged that and took the problem head-on, saying that he knows the pay for officers in his state “is not great” and said that the state has done “some stuff to increase that, and obviously, you have on the municipal and county level as well.”
It might not be a problem for everyone, however. As one Florida officer beautifully put it: “No one is going to get rich being a law enforcement officer, but that is not why we do it.”
