Florida has awarded more than 8,700 recruitment bonuses to new law enforcement officials through its Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday. The latest round includes 40 Hillsboro County Sheriff’s deputies, each receiving a $5,000 after-tax bonus. 715 executives across the state also received bonuses in this round.
Launched in 2022, the program will provide a one-time $5,000 incentive to newly hired executives as both an assessment gesture and a recruitment tool. To date, it has distributed over $58 million, attracting more than 1,900 executives from 49 states and two US territories. Over 500 of these come from the state. The governor’s office is described as having “anti-government” policies in California, Illinois and New York.
“This morning in Tampa, we handed over a $5,000 hiring bonus to 40 New Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies a $5,000 recruiting bonus and honored them for their gratitude for everything they appreciated in serving the community,” DeSantis said. He added that support for the state’s law enforcement agency includes recruitment bonuses, wage increases, wellness resources and “stricken criminal policies.”
Lt. Col. Jay Collins praised Florida’s law enforcement policy, saying the administration is “taking critical steps not only to protect their safety, but also to improve the quality of their livelihoods.”
Under the 2025-26 budget, Florida has allocated $49 million to wage increases that benefit more than 16,200 state law enforcement officials, increasing its minimum base salary to $60,000. The state has also launched a scholarship program that introduces entry-level and veteran pay, strengthening wellness programs, increasing penalties for crimes against executives, and introducing law enforcement courses in high schools and covers training costs for new employees.
In addition to recruitment bonuses, Florida law enforcement officers will receive benefits such as health and retirement plans, student loan forgiveness, mortgage assistance, career advancement opportunities, and more.
