Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) today endorsed Keith M. Touchberry for Sheriff of Indian River County.
“Chief Touchberry is an extraordinary public servant,” said FPCA president Charles “Chuck” Broadway. “From his service in the Marines to his many years with the Vero Beach Police Department, culminating in his leadership as Chief of the Fellsmere Police Department and Immediate Past President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association, Chief Touchberry is a proven champion for law enforcement and public safety.”
FPCA 1st vice-president Charlie Vazquez said, “Chief Touchberry has the knowledge, experience, and relationships necessary to address complex public safety issues, and that’s why the Florida Police Chiefs Association endorses him as the next Sheriff of Indian River County.”
FPCA 2nd vice-president Robert Bage said, “Chief Touchberry inspires trust and commitment in those he leads because he lives true to his values. At a time when law enforcement agencies face tremendous recruiting and retention issues, The Florida Police Chiefs Association is especially proud to support a leader who will bring people together like Chief Touchberry.”
FPCA 3rd vice-president David Currey said, “Chief Touchberry is the model of an innovative, servant-leader who puts the welfare of others ahead of himself. The Florida Police Chiefs Association reaped the benefits of his leadership, and so will Indian River County.”
Concluded Broadway, “We look forward to continue working with Chief Touchberry on behalf of the people of Indian River County and the State of Florida.”
As an active member of FPCA, Chief Touchberry chaired the Professional Standards Committee and worked to develop and promote quality training programs, including regularly teaching ethics at the FPCA’s “Future Chiefs” seminar. Recognizing his leadership qualities, FPCA members elected Chief Touchberry as President for the 2022-2023 term. During this tenure, Chief Touchberry was the impetus behind the creation of the Command Officer Development Initiative (CODI), a model system that will guide the training of future law enforcement leaders and the evolution of the law enforcement profession.
As Chief of the Fellsmere Police Department, Chief Touchberry initiated the Future Educators Response to Active Shooters (FERTAS) program, a partnership between Indian River State College, four county school districts (Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties), and the Treasure Coast Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs Association. Educators are taught subjects like understanding the pathways to violence and preparing for actions taken during and after an active shooter incident. The training culminates in a practical exercise where educators will respond to an active shooter incident. During his tenure as President, Chief Touchberry led the effort to make FERTAS a statewide training requirement for new teachers, presenting on the topic to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission and Florida Department of Education Secretary Manny Diaz.
About the Florida Police Chiefs Association
The Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) is the nation’s pre-eminent law enforcement professional association, speaking for more than 1,300 of Florida’s top law enforcement executives, and providing guidance and leadership for the future of law enforcement and our communities. The FPCA serves municipal, airport, college and university, and tribal police departments, as well as private businesses and security firms and federal, state and county law enforcement agencies across every region of the state. For more information about the FPCA, please visit www.fpca.com.
