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Melissa M. Foster
Agency patch
Police Officer

Melissa M. Foster

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH
Felonious
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch December 4, 2004
Age 35
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 152 ›
Gender Female
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Police Officer Melissa Foster was killed in an automobile crash when her patrol car was struck head-on by a vehicle that crossed the center line on Gender Road. The vehicle was being driven by a suspected drunk driver.

At approximately 1:30 am, Officer Foster was responding to a non-emergency call involving a prowler and was following another patrol car. When the other vehicle crossed the center line, the first patrol car swerved to avoid a collision. However, Officer Foster was unable to take evasive action, and her patrol car was struck. She was flown to Grant Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries a short time later.

The driver of the vehicle that struck her patrol car was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide. The suspect had a previous conviction of involuntary manslaughter in 1997. On August 9, 2005, the suspect was sentenced to 13 years in prison and the lifetime suspension of his driver's license.

Officer Foster had served with the Columbus Division of Police for seven years.

Survivors

She is survived by her two children.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Police Officer Foster gave the Columbus Division of Police 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Foster.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Division of Police
Type Other
Location Columbus, Franklin County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 4, 2004
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 35
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Melissa is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 2004, 79 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 86th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Melissa was 35. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Melissa had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where she stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 1% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

Her people

Columbus Division of Police has 59 officers remembered here, Melissa among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Melissa M. Foster

Columbus Division of Police · End of Watch December 4, 2004

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-W

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