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Gov. Ron DeSantis: 'Some Wanted To Defund Police, We're Funding The Police;' First Responders To Receive $1,000 Bonuses

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday during a press conference that all first responders in the state will receive a$1,000 bonus.

"The legislature has passed and I will, when I sign the budget, which will hopefully be relatively soon, will sign into law, $1,000 bonuses for every sworn law enforcement officer, every EMT, every firefighter, and every paramedic in the state of Florida," DeSantis said.

"Some wanted to defund police, we're funding the police, and then some... And that's what we came here today to say," added the governor.

The announcement comes as National Police Week continues.

No word yet on exactly when those one-time bonuses will be sent out.

The bonuses are included in the 2021-22 state budget, but the budget is not signed yet.

Approximately $208 million has been allocated for more than 174,000 first responders across the state, including 49,405 sworn law enforcement officers, 40,732 EMTs, 35,811 firefighters and 33,185 paramedics in Florida.

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