Florida sheriff’s offices across the state are struggling to keep pace with population growth and expanding law-enforcement responsibilities, according to a new analysis released by Florida TaxWatch.
The report, based on a joint survey conducted with the Florida Sheriffs Association in June 2025, found that staffing shortages are widespread and have contributed to longer response times for calls for service in most counties. Florida’s population grew by more than 15 percent between 2014 and 2023, while the number of sworn law-enforcement officers increased by just 5.6 percent over the same period, the report said.
Nearly three-quarters of responding sheriff’s offices reported difficulty maintaining adequate staffing levels, and about 30 percent said they were struggling to get anywhere close to their identified staffing needs. Vacancy rates for deputy sheriffs ranged from zero to nearly 19 percent statewide in 2024.
“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,” said Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro. “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.”
Sheriffs reported that deputies spend a significant share of their time responding to both emergency and non-enforcement calls, while also handling expanding duties such as mental-health interventions, court security, school assignments, and administrative tasks. Most agencies reported emergency response times under 10 minutes, but roughly 70 percent said response times have increased over the past five years due to staffing shortages.
Recruitment and retention challenges were cited across county sizes, with salary competition emerging as a key issue. Minimum deputy salaries varied widely by county and were often lower than those offered by municipal police departments, state agencies, or federal law-enforcement positions. Many departures were attributed to deputies leaving for higher-paying law-enforcement agencies or other careers.
The report found that most sheriff’s offices rely on budget-driven or historical staffing models rather than workload-based analyses, which Florida TaxWatch said may limit the ability to accurately assess staffing needs.
State initiatives enacted in 2022, including recruitment bonuses and training scholarships, were credited with helping recruitment efforts, particularly in medium and large counties. However, small counties were more likely to report that those measures did not fully address wage competition and funding constraints.
Florida TaxWatch recommended developing a standardized statewide approach to assess staffing needs, expanding law-enforcement career pipelines, and encouraging regional collaboration among sheriffs’ offices.
