Eaton County Sheriff's Department, Michigan
End of Watch: Sunday, January 1, 1967
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 11 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 1, 1967
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Deputy Sheriff Dean Foster was shot and killed after responding to a call of suspicious activity at a gas station near the intersection of Saginaw Highway and Thomas L Parkway, in Delta Township. When he arrived he interrupted a robbery in progress.
Unbeknownst to Deputy Foster, the two subjects had murdered the attendant prior to his arrival and then put on the service station uniforms in an attempt to obtain more money from additional customers. They shot Deputy Foster when he arrived at the scene.
A short time later Police Officer Gerald E. Rosa, of the Battle Creek City Police Department, was struck and killed by an automobile while manning a roadblock in search of the suspects.
The suspects were apprehended in New York and returned to Michigan. One, 21, was convicted of Deputy Foster's murder and sentenced to life. Michigan DOC discharged him on May 23, 2020. Discharged could mean released or death. The other suspect, 19, was convicted of the attendant's murder and sentenced to life. As of October 5, 2022, he was still in prison.
Deputy Foster had served with the Eaton County Sheriff's Office for 11 months and had previously served with the Grand Ledge Police Department. He was survived by his wife.