Beware the wolves. They're always local !
Published Jun. 29, 2006 7:30 am
School administrator charged with lewd acts
Bruce Foster's arrest shocks county, United Way officials.
BY JOE CALLAHAN
SENIOR THE STAR-BANNER
OCALA - Bruce Foster, the United Way's outgoing board chairman and a Marion County Public Schools administrator, was arrested Tuesday during a lewd and lascivious sting in Kissimmee, Osceola County sheriff's officials said.
Foster was arrested and charged with misdemeanor counts of lewd and lascivious behavior, and exposing his sexual organ to a male undercover officer, Osceola sheriff's spokeswoman Twis Lizasuain said.
Foster, 51, didn't return calls for comment.
The news of the arrest of Foster, known for his 26 years of service in the school system, his charitable work and his dedication to his wife and children, stunned Marion County officials.
Foster was attending the 2006 Model Schools Conference in Orlando, which is sponsored by the International Center for Leadership Education, along with his boss, Superintendent of Schools Jim Yancey, and about 75 school district employees.
Yancey received a call from a Kissimmee Police Department employee Wednesday morning informing him of the arrest. Yancey said he didn't believe it and asked that a deputy bring over the arrest photo and report.
That's when he learned officially.
"I was shocked because he is such an outstanding employee," Yancey said of how much Foster loved his job and community.
Foster was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation that was launched Wednesday, Yancey said.
"I will no longer be able to discuss the investigation until it is complete," Yancey said.
Undercover Osceola deputies were conducting the sting at an area called Kissimmee Lakefront, a public area that features sidewalks around Lake Tohopekaliga.
Lizasuain said the undercover operation was targeting suspicious activity in the area. An Osceola sheriff's report states Foster asked the undercover deputy to get in his car.
Because of the amount of foot traffic, Foster suggested going somewhere more secluded, and the deputy suggested a parking lot on Monument Avenue. The report states that without provocation Foster exposed himself.
Maureen Quinlan, president of the United Way of Marion County, said Foster's reign as chairman of the board of directors officially ended at the lest meeting when he passed the gavel to Marion County Sheriff Ed Dean.
Technically, Foster's term ends Friday.
"We're saddened by the news, for Bruce, his family and the community," she said of Foster, who is known for his community involvement and love of his family, including numerous special needs children he and his wife adopted.
"And the United Way will move forward as an organization and continue to provide the resources for the community," she said.
Foster joined the school system as an Exceptional Student Education teacher and became an assistant principal at South Ocala Elementary in 1988. He was later a principal at Ward Highlands Elementary School.
He joined the school district administration in 2001.
Meanwhile, Dean, who has known Foster for several years through work on various community organizations, said he also was shocked by the news.
"I feel badly for his family," he said. "As far as the United Way is concerned, it does not revolve around one person, it revolves around 34 board members and a dedicated United Way staff. We are looking forward to a record-breaking year to help the community."
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Joe Callahan may be reached at joe.callahan@starbanner.com or at (352) 867-4113.
source: http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060629/NEWS/206290375/1001/NEWS01
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Note from Steve, I feel "badly for his family" too. I wonder if Foster made frequent anti-gay jokes & comments, spoke out against gay marriage, posted comments on "anonymous" local internet discussion boards, voted strictly Republican because of "Family Values" and practiced to decieve those around him as well ? The reason I ask ? Follow this link for the pattern/study often associated with some
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