Insp. Ken Foster named Red Deer RCMP detachment commander

There is a new commander of the Red Deer RCMP detachment.

Insp. Ken Foster was named Thursday as the new officer in charge, and he is expected to take over full-time operations by late fall.

Red Deer was at the top of Alberta's list when it comes to the Crime Severity Index, according to Statistics Canada numbers released in early August.

Born in Calgary, Foster has been an RCMP officer for 25 years, beginning his career in 1991.

In 2015, he was appointed officer in charge of the St. Albert detachment.

Prior to that, Foster was in the Yukon, where he oversaw 12 detachments, along with the division air services, forensic identification section, traffic section, police dog section and relief unit.

"I am excited to be returning home to central Alberta and joining the Red Deer detachment where I was sworn in to the RCMP nearly 25 years ago," said Foster in a release.

"I'm extremely honoured to have been selected as the officer in charge of Red Deer detachment and look forward to leading and working with the dedicated and hardworking members and staff of the detachment as we continue to work collaboratively with the community."

Foster will assume the rank of superintendent when he begins duties.

In an effort to reduce the city's high crime rate, Operation Pinpoint was launched earlier this month, targeting persons, places and behaviours most associated with criminal activity.