Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a push for pay raises for state law enforcement and firefighters during a Friday speech in Ponte Vedra Beach. | Governor's Office
Published on February 14, 2025 at 1:29 pm
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Florida’s governor plans to recommend about a $120 million pay raise for the state’s 4,700 sworn law enforcement officers and 700 firefighters.
Speaking Friday morning in Ponte Vedra Beach, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will push for the raises when state lawmakers convene March 4 to tackle the next budget and other measures.
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That would mean a 20% pay increase for entry-level police officers on the state level and a 25% increase for veteran officers. State firefighters would get a 25% pay increase, DeSantis said.
“These are important vocations; we want to make sure that we are keeping good talent,” DeSantis said. “They have been called upon to do a lot more, and so we want to recognize that — first of all recognize it publicly, but then also be able to talk about this next year’s budget and what we are recommending to the Legislature.”
The proposed raise would really help, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Virginia Hatch said as she spoke after the governor.
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“As a single mother of two, the additional funds will improve the quality of life,” Hatch said. “And the pay increase will allow me to better support my family. This proposal also shows that me and my fellow first first responders are valued.”
The governor spoke during a nearly hourlong news conference at the Valley Smoke restaurant. Joining him were St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass and Col. Gary Howze, the Highway Patrol director.
The pay raise would affect the state’s 4,700 state sworn law enforcement officers, plus more than 700 state firefighters.
“I think it’s something that most Floridians support,” DeSantis said. “This is not a terribly large amount of money in the context of the overall budget. It’s a small fraction — but I think it will be very meaningful.”
DeSantis also noted that the raises could stop state law enforcement officers from seeking employment elsewhere, including county-level sheriff’s offices.
