FELLSMERE — The Police Department has new temporary leadership following the retirement of Keith Touchberry earlier this month.
The selection of police Lt. Scott Newsom as the interim chief was announced July 29 just under two weeks after Touchberry’s departure.
Newsom, 46, a 16-year Fellsmere police officer who began his law enforcement career with the city, said as interim police chief, he would “keep things status quo.”
“We’re a well-running operation; there’s not much I need to change,” said Newsom July 29.
After moving to Florida from Connecticut in 2004, Newsom was hired by former Chief Scott Melanson in 2009.
Touchberry became chief in 2013.
“He was a good mentor,” Newsom said, adding through his time working with Touchberry he felt prepared for the leadership role.
The new position, Newsom said, would not necessarily mean new duties, but more of what he was doing before the appointment.
“I had my hands on a little bit of everything,” he said of his former role. “It’ll be a little bit of doing more of what I’ve been doing.”
The position is temporary and a permanent chief will be selected in roughly a month, which is how long the city will collect applications for the job, said Finance Director Kimberly Warren on July 30. The position was advertised as available July 25 on the Florida City and County Management Association website.
Fellsmere is also seeking a city manager, and is currently operating with interim city manager, Noah Powers, appointed in 2024.
The city announced in late March it was no longer seeking applicants for the city manager position, which pays $100,000 to $150,000 annually.
She said selection of the permanent city manager likely will be in August.
Warren said if a city manager is chosen during the 30-day police chief application window, then the new city manager would be responsible for choosing the new chief.
Regardless of the status of its city manager, Warren said Newsom could be chosen to be the city’s full-time police chief only after the formal application and interview process for the position.
“I love the community and this is where I want to be,” Newsom said of the city of just under 5,000 people.
Newsom said he plans to apply to lead the department full time.
(This story was updated with new information.)
Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Interim Fellsmere Police Chief Scott Newsom: ‘I love the community and this is where I want to be’
Reporting by Corey Arwood, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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