While anti-law enforcement rhetoric and calls to defund the police plague our nation, Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is doing the opposite. Thus far at least a dozen NYPD officers have taken DeSantis up on his offer to move to Florida where they will be welcomed with open arms; and a little bit of extra cash.

Governor DeSantis recently announced he would be introducing legislation to gift a $5,000 bonus for all out-of-state cops who relocate to the sunshine state. In May DeSantis gave all first responders in the state a $1,000 pandemic bonus; drastically different treatment than those states that are firing first responders over their vaccination status.

Last week DeSantis offered security to first responders stating, “no cop, no firefighter, no nurse, nobody should be losing their jobs because of these jabs.” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, however, will not back down from his executive-order vaccine mandate, which “has been the latest trigger for some cops amid what they describe as a hostile legal, social and political environment” writes the New York Post.

A spokesperson for the National Association of Police Organizations said that while there is little data tracking on law enforcement moving between states, but there is significant “anecdotal evidence” that suggests cops are fleeing blue states like New York.

“Many New York City cops are weighing our sub-standard salary against the ever-increasing challenges, scrutiny and abuse, and they’re voting with their feet,” Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch told The Post.

“They don’t even need to go all the way to Florida. There are many better-paying police departments in and around NYC, and they’re hiring,” said Lynch. “We certainly don’t blame anybody for leaving. But New York City needs to wake up,” said Lynch.

While the PBA union does not keep track of where each individual moves to, Florida has been very high on the list, sources have said. Additionally, cops are quitting even before their 20-year retirement period. The number more than doubled in 2021 compared to 2020 (1,051 vs. 509).