“Law and order will be maintained when politicians insist on enforcing the law” – Governor Ron DeSantis
VIDEO ABOVE: Governor DeSantis highlights success of Law & Order and SAFE in Polk County
WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA – Gov. Ron DeSantis made a strong statement Wednesday after highlighting Florida’s actions to maintain law and order, protect the state from fentanyl and other illegal drugs, and curb illegal immigration.
Last year, Governor DeSantis signed legislation establishing the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) grant program, which provides law enforcement agencies with the resources needed to conduct large-scale drug operations across the state.
In addition, Florida has passed a number of laws to combat crime, curb illegal immigration, increase penalties for drug and human traffickers, and recruit new police officers.
And when two Soros-backed prosecutors refused to perform their duties in office and enforce the law, they were removed from office by Governor Ron DeSantis.
“Leadership is important,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Law and order is maintained when politicians insist on enforcing the law. Florida has passed crime-fighting laws, recruited police officers from across the country, not allowed cities to defund the police and – when necessary – fired rogue prosecutors who refused to enforce the law.”
“Florida is a law and order state, and thanks to proactive leadership and diligent law enforcement, we continue to thrive, break tourism records and lead the way in new business creation,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “That is thanks in large part to the brave men and women in law enforcement, and we will always work to ensure they are supported by Florida’s leadership.”
“Florida is a national model when it comes to removing drugs from our communities and getting criminals off the streets,” said Dave Kerner, executive director of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. “In every corner of this great state, state troopers and local law enforcement work together to seize drugs and arrest those who profit from them. Instead of demonizing them, Governor DeSantis celebrates the dangerous work our law enforcement officers do every day, and our men and women in law enforcement deeply appreciate that.”
“I commend Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for their support of law enforcement in Florida,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “We are a law and order state and we pride ourselves on it. Because of that, our communities thrive. Florida is a safe place to live, work and play.”
“Thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis and his leadership, Florida law enforcement officers have arrested hundreds of dangerous drug dealers and taken fentanyl and other deadly drugs off our streets,” said Mark Glass, commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. “Florida is a national model and stands in stark contrast to crime-plagued Democratic states.”
In 2023, Governor DeSantis approved $20 million in funding for Florida’s SAFE program, administered by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This state-funded grant has enabled local law enforcement to effectively combat drug trafficking and take hundreds of pounds of deadly drugs off our streets.
SAFE grant success stories include:
– In January 2024, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office used SAFE to arrest eleven suspects for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine, seizing 30 pounds of cocaine and nearly 8 pounds of fentanyl.
– In March 2024, the Santa Rosa and Escambia County Sheriff’s Offices, in cooperation with the DEA, seized 3 grams of fentanyl, marijuana, prescription drugs, and several handguns.
– In April 2024, FDLE operations in conjunction with sheriff’s offices in Seminole and Palm Beach counties resulted in the arrest of nearly 40 drug traffickers.
– In April 2024, officers in the Fort Myers area successfully seized nearly 4 kg of cocaine, 90 g of fentanyl, 69 g of MDMA, 375 g of marijuana, two AR-15 weapons and over $60,000 in cash.
– In July 2024, the FDLE Pensacola, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Offices, Fort Walton Beach Police Department, FHP and DEA announced the arrest of 19 drug traffickers on charges including trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute and organized crime.
– In August 2024, a SAFE-funded investigation uncovered a drug trafficking ring in St. Petersburg that was responsible for manufacturing hundreds of doses of fentanyl daily throughout Polk County, specifically in Lakeland.
Officers seized 10.7 kilos of fentanyl as well as cocaine, oxycodone, marijuana, three illegal firearms and over $500,000 in cash.
In total, SAFE funds resulted in over 650 arrests and the seizure of more than 145 pounds of fentanyl, 220 pounds of cocaine and 60,000 fentanyl pills.
