Officer faces dept. charges

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Newport chief says Foster threatened, lied

Wednesday, May 13, 1998

BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NEWPORT -- Suspended Newport Lt. Steven Foster faces charges of violating nine separate police, city and state rules, including threatening a supervisor when he was on patrol.

The charges, obtained by the Enquirer through an open-records request, were filed April 23 by Newport Police Chief Thomas Fromme. Lt. Foster was immediately suspended without pay pending a disciplinary hearing.

The Newport Board of Commissioners will schedule a hearing within 60 days of April 23 to take action on the charges.

Sgt. Coy Cox, the department spokesman, declined to comment on the charges. He cited the Police Officer's Bill of Rights as his reason for not talking.

Among the charges against Lt. Foster:

• On or about March 27, 1998, while on duty, Lt. Foster was "disrespectful" to Lt. Col. Robert McCray in a "threatening" and "alarming" e-mail letter. Because the letter was sent during an internal investigation, the purpose was to "intimidate and influence" the investigation, according to the charges.

• On or about March 26, 1998, Lt. Foster lied on his Daily Activity Sheet, according to the police disciplinary charges. The times noted on the official document indicate he was on patrol, when in fact, he was preparing the e-mail letter.

• On or about Dec. 1 or Dec. 2, 1997, a direct order was given to Lt. Foster by Lt. Col. McCray to keep his superiors informed "of all matters that pertain to the operations and responsibilities of the division."

• On Dec. 17, 1997, through March 10, 1998, Lt. Foster violated that directive by issuing a memo to the city garage directing that 35-mph signs be posted on Ky. 9. He did so without advising or obtaining permission from supervisors, according to the charges. The state had designated the speed limit as 45 mph in 1996.

• On or about March 12 or 13, he gave an interview to the Kentucky Post, attempting to justify his error in judgment. He was unauthorized to talk with the paper.

Lt. Foster also lied about posting the signs on Ky. 9, the charges say. The 16-year Newport veteran declined to discuss Kentucky Enquirer findings last week that he was suspended without pay. Details of the charges leading to this suspension were unknown until Tuesday's charges were released. Lt. Foster was unavailable for comment and has disconnected his telephone.

Lt. Foster's actions resulted in 200 motorists being ticketed and paying fines. Drivers who were ticketed have had their records cleared and fines refunded, based on a judge's ruling.

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