Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke to a room full of law enforcement officers Tuesday with a clear message: Florida will not follow the path of cities that are soft on crime.
Speaking at the Florida Sheriffs Association Winter Conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, DeSantis criticized what he called “crazy situations” in states like New York and California. He argued that their policies have made life dangerous for residents, while Florida has kept its crime rate at historic lows.
DeSantis told the crowd that the problem starts when leaders stop enforcing the law. He said that when prosecutors decide not to punish certain offenses, it creates a “permission structure” that practically invites criminals to break the rules.
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“If you allow a permission structure where people can commit crimes and not be held accountable, you are going to get more crime,” DeSantis said. He pointed to viral videos of shoplifting in other states as proof, noting that everyday items like toothpaste now have to be locked behind glass in some cities.
The governor also shared a story about a New York-based theft ring to make his point.
He said the criminals would steal goods up north but come to Florida to spend their money. When asked why they didn’t just steal in Florida, too, DeSantis said their answer was simple: “Because they put you in jail in Florida when you steal.” He used this to highlight that strict consequences work, telling the sheriffs, “We are a law and order state.”
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DeSantis finished his remarks by thanking the officers for their work. He credited their efforts and his administration’s support for keeping Florida’s crime rate at a 50-year low.
While he said other parts of the country are struggling with “disorder” and unsafe streets, he promised that Florida would remain a place where public safety comes first.
“We are not going to let our state descend into that type of chaos,” he said.
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