Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) says the state is recruiting police officers from other states who are leaving their positions over COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
During an interview with Fox News on Sunday, DeSantis explained Florida not only wants “to protect the law enforcement and all the jobs, we’re actually actively working to recruit out of state law enforcement, because we do have needs in our police and our sheriffs’ departments.”
He added, “In the next legislative session, I’m going to hopefully sign legislation that gives a $5,000 bonus to any out-of-state law enforcement that relocates in Florida.”
Addressing police officers from New York City, Minneapolis, and Seattle, DeSantis continued, “If you’re not being treated well, we’ll treat you better here. You can fill important needs for us, and we’ll compensate you as a result.”
Watch his comments below:
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) says Florida is "actively working to recruit out-of-state law enforcement" officers quitting in opposition to vaccine mandates:
— The Recount (@therecount) October 24, 2021
"If you're not being treated well, we'll treat you better here." pic.twitter.com/iUSHOmE3Ky
Earlier this month, DeSantis slammed President Joe Biden for suggesting vaccine mandates should not be divisive, as IJR reported.
“Just think of Biden, he says, ‘Don’t make the vaccines divisive.’ Don’t make the vaccines divisive? You are trying to take peoples’ jobs away over this issue. You are trying to plunge people into destitution,” DeSantis said during a press conference.
He continued, “You are taking away their livelihoods. Nobody else is doing that. You are the one that’s being divisive about this.”
Other Republicans are fighting back against vaccine mandates, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R).
He issued an executive order earlier this month stating, “No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination by any individual, including an employee or consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19.”
During a town hall on CNN Thursday night, Anderson Cooper asked Biden if police officers and emergency responders should be mandated to get the vaccine, as IJR reported.
He added, “And if not, should they be–stay at home or be let go?”
Biden responded, “Yes and yes.”
Claiming “the mandates are working,” he continued, “All the talk about all these folks who are going to leave the military if they’re mandated. Not true. You got about a 90-some percent vaccination rate.”
The president went on to mock those who he believes are making the vaccine a “political issue.”
“‘Freedom. I have the freedom to kill you with my Covid.’ No, come on. Freedom,” Biden said.