Acting Police Chief Gets Permanent Job

Since being hired as a patrol officer 23 years ago, Steven Foster has worked his way up through the Police Department ranks. On Tuesday, he reached the highest level, becoming police chief.

City Manager William A. Huston announced the appointment after consulting with the City Council and other city executives.

“The fact that he came up from the ranks, instead of someone from the outside, made us feel real good,” Police Sgt. William Fisher said.

Foster, 47, was a police captain when appointed acting chief in September 1996 after W. Douglas Franks, 60, retired for medical reasons. Franks had served in the post for seven years.

Foster will oversee about 90 sworn police officers in a city of 60,000.