TALLAHASSEE — Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its analysis of Florida Sheriffs’ Offices Staffing Analysis to better understand staffing challenges and how these challenges affect the services Floridians rely upon for safety and security. In June 2025, FTW partnered with the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) to conduct a survey that collected information from local offices about law enforcement services, retention, recruitment, and funding.

Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said, “Here in Florida, the number of employed full-time law enforcement officers has not kept pace with growing demand. From 2014 to 2023, Florida’s population grew by 15.6 percent, but the number of employed sworn law enforcement officers only grew by 5.6 percent. Moreover, in 2024, the vacancy rates for deputy sheriffs ranged from zero percent to 19 percent among Florida sheriff’s offices. The results of the joint survey suggest that even though recent legislation improved recruitment efforts, a shortage of officers is still felt statewide. The difficulties imposed by a limited talent pool and the resulting wage competition are not sustainable. Ultimately, Florida taxpayers risk longer response times to calls for service in the absence of a long-term solution.”

Florida TaxWatch Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jeff Kottkamp said, “It is important to note that sheriffs’ offices are not only competing with each other for law enforcement officers but also with law enforcement agencies operated by national, state, and local governments. In fact, nearly three quarters of our survey respondents say they struggle to maintain their staffing level, with about 30 percent of all respondents struggling to reach anywhere near their desired staffing level. Recent legislation to support law enforcement recruitment has already made meaningful steps to support the development of talent statewide, however, regaining stability in public safety staffing and budgeting will require the attention and collective action of state and local leaders. Florida TaxWatch is proud to make several policy recommendations based on our joint survey results.”

Florida’s rapidly growing population, paired with officers’ ever-expanding duties, requires a robust workforce, but many law enforcement agencies face challenges recruiting and retaining officers. There is a shortage of candidates ready and willing to take on the honorable duty of protecting and serving civilians, with potential candidates deterred by limited financial incentives, the dangerous nature of the job, and a negative public perception. In some cases, prospective hires are identified but law enforcement agencies lack the funding to establish new positions.

Florida TaxWatch makes the following policy recommendations, as law enforcement is a critical use of taxpayer dollars:

1. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement should develop a standardized approach to compare staffing needs and better target supporting areas that need the most help.

2. The State of Florida should work with stakeholders in developing CAPE (Career and Professional Education) programs at high schools and career services at Florida State Colleges that encourage new workforce entrants to consider law enforcement as a potential career path.

3. Local sheriffs’ offices should consider utilizing regional collaboration to develop regional law enforcement recruitment efforts and help their purchasing power.

4. Small counties should consider whether consolidation of services is the best way to optimize their available resources.

5. The State of Florida’s DOGE (Department of Governmental Efficiency) Team should be tasked with assisting local governments in identifying the level of funding appropriate for sheriffs’ offices.

For more detailed information on the joint survey, please visit floridataxwatch.org/Research/Full-Library/Florida-Sheriffs-Offices-Staffing-Analysis