Recently retired law enforcement, health professionals allowed to work during pandemic

Are you a recently retired police officer or health care professional? If so, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants you to come back to work.

DeSantis signed an executive order that suspends Florida law for retired law enforcement officers, first responders, emergency management and public safety personnel and health and medical professionals.

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The order states any of those workers who have retired since Oct. 1, 2019, or who might retire by August 2020 will no longer have to wait six months before returning to work.

The governor says he is worried about manpower, and what can be done if an agency has so many people either sick or quarantined because of COVID-19, that it can’t keep serving the public.

“We need to have folks who are willing to return to service,” DeSantis said.

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Bill Armstrong, a former commander for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, retired a year ago. Given the current state of affairs, he’s considering going back to work, as long as his age doesn’t require the 65-year-old from serving his community one more time.

“You don’t know what the future holds and that may be what they’re preparing for, to have resources available should there be a drain on manpower,” Armstrong said.

People re-hired under this order will not have his or her retirement voided or suspended. Employers must prove you’re doing work directly related to COVID-19.

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