Terry Eugene Foster
Agency patch
Officer

Terry Eugene Foster

Independence Police Department — Independence, MO
Felonious
End of Watch March 17, 2001
Age 54
Tour of Duty 32 yrs
The Vigil Panel 148 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Terry Foster was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance call in the 3600 block of Ralston Avenue.

An elderly couple had called the police to report their grown son was threatening them and acting violently. When officers arrived, the suspect locked himself in an upstairs bedroom. After talking with the suspect, the officers forced the hallway door open and began to check a bedroom when the suspect opened fire, striking Officer Foster in the head and chest several times. Other officers dragged Officer Foster out of the home and held their positions when an explosion ripped through the bedroom, completely engulfing the house. The suspect's body was later found inside.

Officer Foster had served with the Independence Police Department for 32 years and was only three weeks from retirement.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife of one year and several adult children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-B145AAD8
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

32 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Foster gave the Independence Police Department 32 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Independence community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Foster.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Independence, Jackson County, MO
Platform Identity ipd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 17, 2001
Tour of Duty 32 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle

Officer Terry 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Independence Police Department, 6 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Independence Police Department
6
of 8 officers
75% Felonious
MO — Statewide
516
of 813 officers
63.5% 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. Terry 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 Terry Eugene Foster Compares

Age at Death
54
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

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

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. Terry Eugene Foster was killed by rifle.

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

Incident Location