The buzz continues to grow about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stepping into the arena to challenge Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, even though the popular governor has made no official announcement. Add fuel to the embers of what would be a raging fire if proven true is a pro-police tour DeSantis is embarking on this week. The governor will visit a number of blue states, starting in New York City, to address law enforcement officers who feel unsupported, according to Fox News.
“DeSantis will begin the tour Monday morning by speaking with police officers and law enforcement union officials at a diner in the red-leaning borough of Staten Island. The governor will then head to Fort Washington, a Philadelphia suburb, and Elmhurst, Illinois, near Chicago, where he will meet with sheriffs, chiefs of police and other local law enforcement officials,” the network reported, citing DeSantis’ political team.
He is expected to point to Florida as an example of how to support law enforcement and reduce crime — DeSantis recently proposed legislation to strengthen bail laws, toughen penalties for sex criminals and other anti-crime measures, Fox News noted.
DeSantis prioritized the recruit out-of-state law enforcement officers last year awarding $5,000 signing bonuses to officers willing to relocate to Florida, this being part of the largest recruitment effort in state history, according to the governor’s office.
Paul DiGiacomo, president of New York City’s Detectives’ Endowment Association, will be on hand Monday when DeSantis visits Staten Island and he denounced New York’s bail reform law that ended cash bail requirements for many criminal charges, telling Fox News that this has endangered law enforcement and the public.
“It’s a law enforcement rally to send a message back to some of our elected officials that the laws that they have enacted in the state of New York are not working – specifically the bail reform laws – and it’s putting my members, detectives and cops in danger, as well as the public,” DiGiacomo said. “It’s gone too far to the left over the last couple of years.”
News of the tour certainly has the left triggered… here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from Twitter:
Doesn't the Florida Constitution say he must resign from being Governor before he can announce a run for President ?
Not that I would ever expect a republican to ever follow a law or anything let a lone a Constitution..
— Hello Kenny (@rokmoto131) February 20, 2023
Editor left out state after police.
— Guttering Out ✍️🍇🥀 (@BabylonVines) February 20, 2023
https://twitter.com/UnarmedTeacher/status/1627593036439109633
You're too busy trying to Be Lord or Father over Florida, 1. telling our kids what type of classes they are allowed to take, as well what to study in them. 2. Turning FL into an open gun carry state, which will hurt police as well as citizens; they won't know who's carrying it.
— Brenda Elliott (@BrendaE12533541) February 20, 2023
Oh please. Are these the same cities who had to welcome people he sent? Work on Florida and Florida cities. pic.twitter.com/1YMUHNNcTf
— EKA (@ekastx2018) February 20, 2023