R. Tyrone Foster

R. Tyrone Foster is a lifelong resident of Bristol, Virginia, and a 1976 graduate of Virginia High School. After working for the Electrolux Corporation for 24 years, he began a career in law enforcement in 2000 after graduating from the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy. He served with the Bristol Virginia Police Department for 22 years in various roles, including patrolman, detective, hostage/crisis negotiator, and senior gang investigator. Foster was elected as the first African-American member of the Bristol School Board in 2008 and served until 2021, including a term as President of the Virginia School Boards Association. He was elected Sheriff of Bristol in 2021, taking office in January 2022.