Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is appealing to cops in anti-police communities, inviting them to work in Florida where the “culture is better.”
Speaking in northeast Florida, according to local media, the Republican governor predicted Florida would see, and may already have witnessed, “people in these police departments in various other parts of the country who, if they can get a job in Florida, they want to come to Florida to be able to do it.”
That’s because, DeSantis added, “the culture is better, and they understand they’re going to be supported much more resolutely than what they do.”
There no doubt that in many of America’s big cities where liberal officials promote “defund the police” rhetoric, supported “protesters” who included rioters and looters, and are now refusing to police minor crimes have drained the morale of incumbent cops and a desire to serve among potential recruits.
Last month, the Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington think tank, released the results of a survey of 200 departments nationwide on personnel changes between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.
They found that on average 7 percent of their authorized positions remain unfilled.
The resignation rate was up 18 percent in 2020-21 compared to the prior year.
Retirements were up 45 percent across the board, and 27 percent in cities with 500 or more officers.
Departments with 250 or more officers saw hiring fall off 29 percent. The rate was even higher – 36 percent – among those with 500 or more cops.
While DeSantis wants to invite more police from other locales to work in Florida, the forum’s survey included comments from leaders in some departments who noted that officers who left didn’t go elsewhere – they quit the profession.
In his comments, DeSantis said, “Make no mistake: the reason that you have such huge spikes in crime in many parts of the country is because of not standing up for law enforcement, having weak policies where you’re letting people out, and you’re not prosecuting people who are committing habitual offenses.”
“That is clearly causing disastrous consequences.”
In Florida, on the other hand, “We’re happy to be supportive of law enforcement,” the governor said.
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