VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – After inviting New Yorkers down to Florida earlier this month, Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood is now trying to recruit officers from the Big Apple, according to the sheriff’s office.
In a release, Chitwood said that the sheriff’s office would be advertising at Times Square 80 times a day through Jan. 31, 2026.
During this time, the message is set to be regularly updated, Chitwood added.
“Wherever you’re coming from, if you’re a great cop, then Sunny Florida is a fantastic place to start your next chapter,” the release reads.
Chitwood also explained that the campaign is funded through the Volusia Sheriff’s Foundation, so there were “no tax dollars necessary.”
Last week, Chitwood invited New Yorkers to move to the Sunshine State following the election of Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor.
In a Facebook post, Chitwood said that New York City residents or police officers dissatisfied with the election results are invited “into the welcoming arms of Volusia County.”
“To all New Yorkers, if you’re looking for a better quality of life, from education, to the outdoors, to the beautiful weather, check out Volusia County,” Chitwood wrote. “We are open for business. Tonight’s election is not the end. It can be the beginning of a new life.”
[BELOW: Volusia sheriff invites New Yorkers to Florida after mayoral election]
Mamdani, who claimed victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the mayoral seat on Tuesday, is set to be New York City’s youngest mayor, as well as the city’s most liberal in generations.
He has already faced scrutiny from national Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who have eagerly cast him as a threat and the face of what they say is a more radical Democratic Party.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also weighed in on the election results on social media.
Floridians — response to the Mamdani election in NYC should be to:
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) November 5, 2025
DeSantis has taken several jabs at the Big Apple during his governorship, including during a news conference in Winter Haven earlier this year, where he claimed that New Yorkers were fleeing to Florida.
“New York state now, they have millions fewer residents than we do in Florida…” he stated at the time. “We have over 23 million, they have about 19.5 million. And so even with millions more residents, the state of Florida’s budget is less than half of the budget of New York state.”
A report earlier this month also shows that people fleeing New York City are more inclined to move to large metros in Florida like Miami, Orlando and Tampa.
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