Pubdate: Sat, 04 Jun 2005
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2005 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact:  http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805
Author: Lora Hines

GOV. APPOINTS EX-DEA AGENT DIRECTOR OF MBN

Marshall Fisher, Who Starts Monday, Has Spent 28 Years In Law Enforcement

Gov. Haley Barbour on Friday named a career lawman and drug agent as
the director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

Marshall Fisher, 53, most recently was the Drug Enforcement
Administration's assistant special agent in charge of Mississippi. He
started his law enforcement career 28 years ago at Tyler, Texas,
Police Department.

Fisher, who begins his MBN job on Monday, replaces George Phillips,
who became Mississippi Department of Public Safety commissioner on May
1. Fisher bio

About Marshall Fisher:

Age: 53

Hometown: West Monroe, La.

Married: 30 years

Career: Joined the Drug Enforcement Administration in Shreveport in 1983. He
had previously worked at the Tyler, Texas, Police Department and at the
Louisiana Department of Corrections. He worked in DEA offices in San
Antonio, Texas, Kansas City, Kan., London, Ky. and Arlington, Va., before
coming to Jackson in 2004 as the agency's assistant special in agent in
charge of Mississippi.

"He is just about ideal," Phillips said of his successor. "This guy is
about enforcement."

Fisher said he's spent his life trying to keep drugs out of
neighborhoods and away from children. If law enforcement could get a
handle on illegal drugs, they might prevent other crimes, including
domestic violence and homicide, he said. "I believe what we do is
important," Fisher said. "It might sound corny, but I do."

Fisher said his goal is to make sure his agents are safe while they
try to stop all drugs from coming into the Magnolia state.

As MBN director, Fisher said he wants to maintain a strong working
relationship with the DEA and sheriff's and police departments. "When
I go out and talk to local chiefs, everyone of them tell me drugs are
on the rise," Fisher said.

In Mississippi, crack cocaine still is the most desirable drug, he
said. Phillips said he got to know Fisher while he was MBN director
and Fisher headed DEA activities in Mississippi.

"We would talk to each other about every day," he said. "He is an
absolute natural."

Despite being honored by Barbour's offer, Fisher said it was tough to
decide whether to accept the MBN job. But Barbour's commitment to law
enforcement persuaded him to do so. "The governor is very astute when
it comes to what's going on in drug enforcement," Fisher said. "This
governor believes drugs are a scourge."

In a written statement, Barbour said he's confident Fisher will be an
effective director. "He will continue our efforts in more coordination
with local law enforcement agencies while aggressively fighting drug
crimes across the state," Barbour said. "After working for the Drug
Enforcement Administration, he knows the inner workings of MBN because
he's worked so closely with them over the years."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin