On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the west suburban community of Elmhurst as he considered a 2024 presidential run.
“As they are defunding police and attacking police in these other jurisdictions, the state of Florida has shown them that we got your back and we support what you’re doing,” DeSantis told.
Many laws supporting police enforcement have been implemented in Florida,
including signing incentives for new officers and those transferring from other states as well as scholarships for family members.
He spent most of his speech on the event's "Back the Blue" theme.
In response to the murder of George Floyd, he praised calling in the National Guard and punishing demonstrators.
“As you see massive increases in crime in places like Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Florida has a 50-year low in our crime rate,” DeSantis said.
“You’re not going to have a good economy if the streets aren’t safe, you’re not going to have good education if people don’t feel safe.” DeSantis said.
DeSantis also said“None of it works unless you have the foundation of public safety.”.
According to data gathered by the Major Cities Chiefs Association and made public this month.
U.S. Representative Darin LaHood of Peoria gave DeSantis his introduction at the occasion.