Enhancing his opportunities for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wants pay and perk hikes for Florida law enforcement across the spectrum. Coincidentally, it is also the right thing to do.

Some do not realize that law enforcement personnel are daily engaged in operations that put their life on the line. Families of those officers understand this. In other jobs, if it were that dangerous, the pay would be sky high. Yet many law enforcement officers start at below $50K annually. That is absurd for a career that is fraught with potential danger.

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The men and women of law enforcement, some who I know personally, are not perfect. As the old Army saying goes, “Every unit has its three percent of ass draggers.” But the noble and brave of the lot far surpass in number the bad apples. Thus they deserve this pay increase and more down the line. It’s a small price to pay for our own safety and their piece of mind.

FNC: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing pay increases for law enforcement officers statewide and bonuses for first responders as he ramps up efforts to recruit dissatisfied police officers from other states.

The Republican governor announced the pay raises while speaking Monday at the Florida Highway Patrol Troop D headquarters in Orlando. The proposal includes $73 million to increase the starting pay for entry-level state law enforcement officers by 20% and veteran officer salaries by 25%. Another $135 million would be used to increase pay for state correctional officers and officers with the Department of Juvenile Justice. Special risk firefighters would see a salary increase of up to $2,500 each.

Under the proposal, all recruits new to law enforcement would receive a $5,000 signing bonus, as well as a $1,000 bonus for responders – which includes firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and law enforcement officers. To attract officers from outside the state, the officer certification exam would be offered for free.”

“While other states have turned their backs on law enforcement, even calling to ‘defund the police,’ in Florida we continue to support the men and women in law enforcement,” DeSantis said in a statement. “I am proud to propose larger and longer-lasting measures to help our state recruit and retain the best law enforcement officers in the nation and to provide $1,000 bonuses for first responders and law enforcement officers for the second year in a row.”

“Recruiting and retaining highly qualified law enforcement officers dedicated to public services is crucial, now more than ever,” said Terry Rhodes, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. “The Governor’s historic pay proposal makes it clear that Florida cares for and recognizes the sacrifices that law enforcement officers and their families make, many times in the most challenging of circumstances.”