On Tuesday, May 29, Camp Verde Town Manager Russ Martin announced that Randy Foster, currently serving as police chief of Bloomfield, N.M., would be joining Camp Verde as its new full-time marshal, effective Monday, June 25.
Martin chose Foster from a slate of 23 candidates, which he had previously narrowed down to three finalists, including Jason Negron of the Whitehall, Penn., police department, and Camp Verde’s Cmdr. Brian Armstrong, who has been serving as acting marshal.
According to a press release from Martin, Foster impressed with “his experience in all aspects of community policing in areas similar to Camp Verde in size and type of law enforcement,” as well as his experience dealing with wildfires in New Mexico.
“I’m a big proponent of interacting with the community, interacting with the businesses, and especially with the youth,” Foster said at a meet-and-greet with Camp Verde residents on May 18. He mentioned his practice of setting up basketball games between the Bloomfield Police Department and local kids.
“I’m just at the point where I could retire in New Mexico, but I’m not done working.”
Foster takes over the job after several months of Armstrong serving as acting marshal due to former Marshal Nancy Gardner having been placed on leave pending an investigation into her workplace conduct by the Arizona Department of Public Safety Professional Standard Unit, eventually leading to her resignation in March.
Armstrong has expressed his intention to stay on as commander of the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office.
More information about Foster and the decision will be available in the Wednesday, June 6, issue of The Camp Verde Journal.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
