Florida’s largest police union has declared their support for Governor Ron DeSantis’s presidential bid in a public statement released on Monday. The endorsement, once firmly held by former President Trump, is now switched in favor of DeSantis, praising his unrivaled effectiveness as a governor. John Kazanjian, the President of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, endorsed DeSantis in the public statement. He lauded DeSantis as the most effective governor in the nation, expressing his belief that public safety will be one of the top priorities for the governor.
The statement from the Kazanjian read:
“In major cities and communities across America, many Americans are grappling with increased crime rates that not only jeopardize public safety, but also threaten the quality of life in their communities,” Kazanjian said. “The ideological experiment of defunding the police and scapegoating law enforcement for America’s social problems has failed.”
Kazanjian called DeSantis the “one candidate for president who has a proven track record in enhancing public safety and investing in the essential men and women who help maintain public safety every day.
“For the over 30,000 men and women in the Florida Police Benevolent Association, the choice for us could not be clearer. Governor Ron DeSantis and his administration have made Florida a law-and-order state, by investing in and supporting the thousands of law enforcement officers, who serve on the front lines in keeping our communities safe and secure.”
“Governor DeSantis has made Florida a destination for all Americans to live safely and freely,” the release states. “He is one of the most effective Governors in the nation and he will take his proven track record to the White House, where he will continue to have the backs of law enforcement officers and make public safety a top priority.
The union’s press release highlighted several of DeSantis’s key actions that strengthened law enforcement within Florida. These actions included significant financial investments, such as over $100 million towards increasing police salaries and another $20 million to counter the lethal fentanyl overdoses prevalent in the state.
This shift in endorsement from the former President Trump, who received the union’s support in 2020, to Governor DeSantis represents a notable change in the political landscape.
