Achievements
Fellsmere Police Department
Longest serving police chief in the history of the Fellsmere Police Department at 10.5 years
Florida Police Chief Association – President
Elected President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association, third largest Chiefs Association in the nation.
https://www.wqcs.org/wqcs-news/2022-08-16/fellsmere-police-department-chief-keith-touchberry-named-fpca-president – Courtesy of WQCS News
Indian River State College
Conceived of, and coordinated the development of the Future Educators Response to Emergency Situations Program (FERTES) at Indian River State College now expanding to colleges and Universities across the state. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIUQr9nN3LU – Video courtesy of Indian River State College
Cadets and Kids Program
Creator of the Cadets and Kids Program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GrT0FX2Avo – Video Courtesy of Moonshot Moment
Created “Habitual Drunkard”
Created “Habitual Drunkard” program based on Florida Law, designed to assist those who suffer from alcoholism in partnership with families and local businesses. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0562/Sections/0562.50.html
Law Enforcement Excellence Award
Twice the recipient of the FPCA Rocky Pomerance Law Enforcement Excellence Award on behalf of the Fellsmere Police Department for innovative approaches to policing. https://fpca.com/rocky-pomerance-law-enforcement-excellence-award/
Legislative efforts
Legislative efforts through the Florida Police Chiefs Association; responsible for initiating changes to existing laws, or creating new laws to better empower law enforcement officers and protect Floridians.
Florida Statute 790.08 entitled “Taking possession of weapons and arms; reports; disposition; custody” as outlined in Senate Bill 1286 (2024), signed in to law, amended to return firearms and other weapons to owner https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/1286/BillText/er/PDF
Creation of Florida Statute 581.189 entitled “Dealing in, buying, transporting, and processing saw palmetto berries” as outlined in Senate Bill 1084 (2024), pending the Governor’s signature: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/1084/BillText/er/PDF
Inspired the filing of HB 903 through the creation of the Future Educators Response to Emergency Situations Program (FERTES) at Indian River State College and recommendations made to the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Commission in September 2021, and to FDOE Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. when serving as the President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association. Efforts to pass this legislation will resume in 2025: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/903/BillText/Filed/PDF
Amending Florida Statute 817.49 entitled “False reports of commission of crimes,” as outlined in House Bill 371 (2021). Publicly known as Florida’s “Swatting Law”. Signed in to law June 4, 2021. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/371/BillText/er/PDF
Vero Beach Police Department
-Responsible for leading departmental efforts to achieve State Law Enforcement Accreditation in 2002 and re-accreditation in 2005 and 2008
-First K9 team trainer in the history of the Vero Beach Police Department
-Recipient of two lifesaving medals, one exceptional duty medal, and one exceptional service medal