Keith Foster was arrested for conspiracy to distribute and/or possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone, heroin and marijuana on Thursday. Foster was arrested with five other people, and is a result of what federal agents say was an “intensive, on-going, year-long investigation by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Foster has served as deputy police chief for the past eight years, joining the department of 1986. He was most recently in charge of overseeing patrol districts across the city.
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said he was shocked by Foster’s arrest.
“The message I want to send to everyone (in the police department) is when we place this badge on our chest, it is a badge of honor and there is a lot of responsibility that goes with that,” Dyer said during a press conference in Fresno shortly after the arrests.
“I really am at a loss for words. I think it sends a strong message that whether they are an individual who is in a gang or whether they are a person in the police department, no one is above the law, and if they commit a violation of the law, they are going to be investigated and arrested and they too will have their day in court to prove their innocence.”
Wagner said Dyer is cooperating fully with federal investigators. Dyer said he didn’t know about the investigation until after Foster was arrested.
