Tiverton Police Welcome Only Active-Duty Woman Officer

The Tiverton Police Department welcomed its only active duty female officer to its force last Month. Meet Officer Brittany Foster.

Law enforcement is a natural fit for the 25-year-old Foster. She is a second-generation police officer and she graduated from Roger Williams University last year with a degree in criminal justice. 

Foster said her career path was always clear. She reminisced on her childhood adoration of her father, who is a sergeant in South Hampton, NY - a sleepy Long Island, NY town similar to Tiverton.

"I saw how much he was respected by the community and how he gave the community respect as well," said Foster. "People talked with him and felt comfortable with him."

"One of the things I remember most are the stories he would tell me every day," added Foster. "They were exciting, interesting. Anything could change on any certain day, which is what I love about this job."

As the only active duty female officer in the Tiverton Police Department, Foster said she fits in well and already feels like a part of the family.

"Everyone is close-knit, you know everybody, know where everybody is coming from," said Foster of Tiverton's 30-officer department. "Even in the academy, it is a brotherhood and sisterhood. It's a close knit family, we support each other."

Foster excelled at the state Municipal Police Academy, which she graduated from on May 24. There she said she proved her mental and physical prowess.

"I am very happy that I can come into this line of work as a female and be respected just as well as a male and do my job just as well," said Foster.

"She was the best," said Capt. Patrick Jones, Tiverton's public information officer. "It has nothing to do with gender and everything to do with how well you perform."

Fresh out of the academy, Foster is in the midst of a three-month training program where she will learn the intricacies and dynamics of the Tiverton Police Department. She will shadow officers both in the field and at headquarters on Industrial Way.

Despite being the force's rookie officer, Foster is already looking forward to following in her father's footsteps toward a long and successful career in law enforcement.

"I'm looking forward to finally getting started on my own and eventually I would like to move up," said Foster. "I see myself in five to 10 years as a detective or sergeant."