Mercedes Phillips, a former police officer in Montgomery County, is featured in a new campaign ad for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his bid for the Republican nomination for President of the United States (video available below).
In the advertisement, Phillips states she was a police officer in Montgomery County for three years and that “it’s a really big difference when you have the Governor of an entire state that supports law enforcement because I know that trickles down immediately to the community because when the government supports law enforcement, then they follow suit.”
Phillips joined the Cape Coral Police Department in Florida in July 2022, accepting a $5,000 incentive bonus to become a police officer in the state per a news conference last October. Earlier this year, Montgomery County Police announced a $20,000 bonus for new officers that would be paid in installments beginning with the recruiting class that began this month. The funding for the initial part of this effort was generated through savings accrued from personnel vacancies within the Montgomery County Police Department. Full implementation of the bonus program would require County Council approval for the fiscal 2024 and beyond budgets. Chief Marcus Jones stated earlier this year in testimony before the Public Safety Committee of the County Council that the Department was down by 129 sworn officers.
In the last year, Florida has issued more than 2,265 bonuses for new recruits and law enforcement officers who have moved to Florida from 50 states and U.S. territories.
We are grateful to have thousands of officers, like Officer Phillips, coming to our great state to serve and… pic.twitter.com/i70QYwXNdo
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 26, 2023