Florida GOP Governor Ron DeSantis is ready to kick off a pro-police tour beginning in New York City to speak with law enforcement officers in cities led by Democrat mayors who feel unsupported.
The governor will begin his tour on Monday morning, speaking with law enforcement union officials and police officers at a diner in the red-leaning borough of Staten Island. Governor DeSantis will then make his way to a Philadelphia suburb, Fort Washington, and Elmhurst, Illinois, near Chicago, where he is scheduled to meet with local law enforcement officials, sheriffs, and chiefs of police, according to his political team.
President of New York City’s Detectives’ Endowment Association, Paul deGiacomo, will attend Monday’s event. According to deGiacomo, New York’s bail reform law that ended requirements for a plethora of criminal charges has endangered law enforcement.
“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 dangers, as well as the public,” said deGiacomo. “It’s gone too far to the left over the last couple of years.”
DeSantis is expected to emphasize his efforts to support law enforcement and reduce crime in Florida. He recently proposed legislation to toughen penalties for sex criminals and strengthen bail laws, as well as supporting other measures.
DeSantis’ office said the governor implemented the most significant recruitment package for law enforcement officers in state history last year. The package awarded $5,000 signing bonuses to officers willing to relocate to Florida from Dem-led states.
DeSantis’ upcoming trip leads to backlash
News of Governor DeSantis’ impending trip to Chicago was met with a backlash last week, led by Illinois Democrat Governor JB Pritzker, who condemned DeSantis as “homophobic.”
“Well, he doesn’t represent the values of the people in Illinois,” said Pritzker. “In fact, he is the antithesis of that. He’s demonstrated that he’s homophobic, that he has tendencies to promote racism.”
Governor DeSantis has been mentioned as a possible GOP nominee to run for the presidency since 2024, although he has made no official announcement.
According to campaign insiders, “On Staten Island, we are proud to support our law enforcement,” said Assemblyman Mike Tannousis, chairman of the Staten Island GOP. “I’m happy that our law enforcement community will get some recognition and support.”
The city’s most Republican-leaning borough is loaded with Trump backers, who earned 57% of the island’s vote in 2020. Monday’s appearance is a critical test of DeSantis’ chances among Trump’s remaining devotees.
