Capt. William “Keith” Starling is a lifelong resident of Highlands County and a veteran member of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office with over 30 years of experience.  Keith graduated from Avon Park High School in 1987, before beginning his career with the agency in 1988.  

Keith started his career as a detention deputy, before transferring to the Law Enforcement Bureau in 1990, as a patrol deputy.  In 1992 Keith became a Field Training Deputy, and in 2004 was promoted to Corporal.  Keith was promoted to Uniform Patrol Sergeant in 2005.  During this same year, Keith also became the supervisor of the agency’s dive team and marine patrol unit.  Upon his promotion to Uniform Patrol Lieutenant in 2007, Keith served as a Uniform Patrol Watch Commander and supervisor of the Field Training Program for eight years, before being transferred to Criminal Investigations Unit, as a Lieutenant.  In 2018, Keith was promoted to Captain of the Criminal Investigations Division.

Captain Starling has over 2,000 hours of advanced and specialized law enforcement training to include, leadership, management, and intelligence-led policing.  He is a certified public manager, earning this certification through the Florida Center for Public Management at Florida State University. Captain Starling is also a FDLE certified general instructor and firearms instructor. 

The Criminal Investigations Division of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office is comprised of five units assigned to conduct follow-up investigation of serious crimes and complicated investigations:  the Criminal Investigations Unit, the Special Victims Unit, the Crime Scene Unit, the Property and Evidence Unit and the School Resource Unit.  Detectives, deputy sheriffs, and non-sworn staff assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division receive advanced training in their investigative specialty.