Thirty-eight Pasco County Sheriff's Office recruits received $5,000 bonus checks from Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sept. 15. The governor presented the checks in person at the agency's training facility on Charles Bo Harrison Way in Land O' Lakes.

The bonuses are part of a statewide round totaling more than $10 million for 1,506 new law enforcement officers, Florida's Voice reported. DeSantis said each recruit will receive the full $5,000 after taxes.

The program is aimed at drawing new people into the profession, including those not currently working in law enforcement, according to the governor's office. DeSantis chose the Pasco training facility for the announcement, holding an 11 a.m. press conference reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay.

"We wanted to show that this is a noble profession, it's an important profession for the safety and security of our communities," DeSantis said.

Program Has Paid Out $83 Million Since 2022

Florida launched the law enforcement recruitment bonus program in 2022. Since then, the state has awarded more than $83 million in bonuses to nearly 12,500 officers, according to the governor's office. The current round marks the latest wave of payouts under the program.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the state gave $1,000 bonuses to law enforcement officers for two consecutive years. Teachers and emergency medical technicians received the same amount. The $5,000 recruitment checks represent a significant increase over those earlier payments.

Sheriff Points to Shrinking Applicant Pool

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco used the event to flag a staffing concern that extends beyond the county.

"The amount of people that want to get into law enforcement is shrinking," Nocco said.

No Pasco-specific vacancy figures appeared in available accounts of the press conference. Nocco did not provide local staffing numbers, but his remarks underscored a challenge law enforcement agencies across Florida have faced in recent years.

Program Also Targets Out-of-State Officers

The bonus program targets both career-changers and out-of-state officers willing to relocate to Florida. DeSantis framed the payments as part of a broader effort to position the state as a destination for law enforcement professionals.

Residents interested in a career with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office can contact the agency's recruitment division for application details.