Photo byBodyWorn/Utility

After Illinois permitted foreign nationals as law enforcement, Governor Ron DeSantis plans to lure Chicago officers to Florida with billboards and incentives. I interviewed three Tampa residents to get their thoughts on this controversial issue.

The Issue: Incentivizing Police to Move to Florida

The plan to run billboards and incentivize officers to move from the Chicago area to Florida came after Illinois allowed foreign nationals to become police officers.

In response, Governor DeSantis stated, "We stand behind our CITIZEN officers...Other states deputize non-citizens, enact policies that favor criminals over victims, and work to overtly or covertly defund the police, but not in Florida. I look forward to welcoming the Illinois men and women in blue to the law-and-order state.”

Apparently, they would be able to take advantage of a $5,000 signing bonus as well.

3 Tampa Residents Speak Up

I interviewed three Tampa residents to see what they thought of our governor's response to this controversial issue. Here's what they said:

David stated, "I get it. It's concerning when non-citizens are allowed to serve in law enforcement roles, as it raises potential security and accountability issues. If qualified Chicago officers are willing to relocate to Florida, it could help ensure the safety and security of our state, and I welcome their contributions."

Grace stated, "Why would he [DeSantis] do that? The man's running for president, isn't he? Chicago needs all the good cops they can get."

William stated, "It seems like he's using this situation to score political points rather than genuinely addressing the concerns of law enforcement. Recruiting officers from another state because of their citizenship status is the very opposite of what we need. We should be focusing on effective training to improve our police force, not importing officers from elsewhere."

What do you think? Do you think that Florida should try to incentivize Chicago officers to move here instead? Let me know in the comments below.

*Please Note: Names have been changed to protect the anonymity of Florida residents.