David Eugene Foster
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

David Eugene Foster

Curry County Sheriff's Office — Gold Beach, OR
Felonious
End of Watch December 17, 1984
Age 43
The Vigil Panel 129 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Foster was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance call. The suspect waited for Deputy Foster to arrive and shot him from ambush as he exited his patrol car. The 57-year-old suspect was apprehended and sentenced to life. He died in prison November 3, 2003.

Survivors

Deputy Foster is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-8A697AAC
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Foster served with the Curry County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Gold Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Foster.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Gold Beach, Curry County, OR
Platform Identity ccso.curry.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 17, 1984
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Deputy Sheriff David Eugene Foster is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 58.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Curry County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Curry County Sheriff's Office
1
of 3 officers
33.3% Felonious
OR — Statewide
115
of 197 officers
58.4% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Eugene Foster's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How David Eugene Foster Compares

Age at Death
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Eugene Foster is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David Eugene Foster was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Curry County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.