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
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Location Independence, 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
Offender Committed suicide

Officer Terry Eugene Foster is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% 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
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Terry Eugene Foster Compares

Age at End of Watch
54
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

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
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
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.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location