On May 29, Camp Verde Town Manager Russ Martin announced that Randy Foster, currently serving as police chief of Bloomfield, N.M., will 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.
“He has experience as a chief in a similar situation that is undeniable,” Martin said. “And it manifested itself throughout the interview process.”
Martin brought in police chiefs from around the Verde Valley to interview the three finalists, and said Foster stood out throughout the search.
“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.
Foster is looking for housing in Camp Verde, along with his wife Shayna and twin 7-year-old sons. His wife, a veterinarian, is looking for an opportunity to continue her position in the area, and Foster said his boys are eager to see Out of Africa once they have moved to Arizona.
“I’m excited. I think it will be a great opportunity for us,” Foster said. “I was real impressed by the plan and progress for the town — what’s coming up and the future. All the employees that I met, both at the Marshal’s Office and with the town — I’m really looking forward to working with everyone.”
Foster takes over the job after several months of Armstrong serving as acting marshal after former Marshal Nancy Gardner was placed on leave pending an investigation into her workplace conduct by the Arizona Department of Public Safety Professional Standard Unit, which eventually led to her resignation in March.
Armstrong has expressed his intention to stay on as commander of the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office, which Martin said will benefit the transition process.
“He’s excited as well,” Martin said of Armstrong. “I think his excitement is getting someone to help him work through these issues.”
Martin said he sees this result, where he gets to bring on Foster but hold on to Armstrong anyway, as the best possible outcome. He said he looks forward to being able to have two of the three finalists working with the marshal’s office.
“Credit goes to [Armstrong],” Martin said. “He’s a great guy, and he made it easy to talk to him about it.”
Foster said he accepts the difficulty of taking over an office he has never worked for before, and feels he is up for the task.
“It’ll be something I have to work on,” Foster said. “I’m willing to come in there and do it, meet people and let them see what I can do. I’ll work real hard for them and hope to gain their trust as soon as possible.”
Foster will attend a Coffee with a Cop event on Monday, June 25, his first day on the job, in the hopes of getting to know people from the community.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
