Tom Swisher seeks prosecutor vs. Fitz

Published 10:40 pm Thursday, May 15, 2008

By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac trial lawyer Thomas D. Swisher filed to challenge five-year incumbent Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz for the Republican nomination in the Aug. 5 primary.
Swisher, 54, of 25341 Dutch Settlement St., a former U.S. Marine sergeant and Jacksonville, Fla., police officer, has practiced law in this community for 23 years.
He raised his family, which includes three children and nine grandchildren who remain residents, in this community.
He said Wednesday he has a vested interest in insuring the safety of his family, friends and community and is committed to vigorously prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law those individuals who threaten its security and safety.
From his experience practicing law locally and his years as a cop patrolling an inner-city beat for more than five years, Swisher said he has developed a sense of what the community needs from one of its top law enforcement officials "to accomplish the goal of promoting fair, impartial and expeditious pursuit of justice."
Swisher said he believes he can build the integrity of the prosecutor's office among law enforcement, the courts and the community by recruiting and training competent trial lawyers.
Policies he would implement to accomplish his goals include:
Protecting the community by vigorous prosecution of violent and habitual offenders while continuing to wage the fight to eradicate drugs.
Assigning resources to combat violent and habitual criminals.
Assigning resources to combat crimes on the weakest individuals in our community, the elderly, the disabled and children.
Working closer with the court and probation officers in Probate Court juvenile division to identify violent and repeat juvenile offenders.
Combating predators in our schools and making them safer.
Supporting the countywide drug enforcement team.
Recruiting, training and retaining skilled assistant prosecutors.
Supporting the training and effectiveness of local law enforcement officers.
Gaining intelligence and resources from surrounding communities.
Pursuing an equitable pretrial diversion program for infractions and certain non-violent misdemeanor offenders, which will allow for reallocation of limited prosecutor resources to where they are needed the most.
Aggressively pursuing state and federal grants and other funding sources which will allow Cass County to strengthen its resolve against violent offenders and drug dealers.
"Cass County shares the same problems and crimes that plagues the larger municipalities in our area," Swisher said Wednesday. "Many of these problems and crimes have spilled over from these larger municipalities and require the vision, initiative and enthusiasm of a prosecuting attorney who has worked both sides of the street – as a professional police officer and skilled trial attorney."
Swisher served in the Marines from 1971 through 1973. After his honorable discharge, he attended and graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree from the School of Criminology. He holds a second bachelor's degree from Bethel College and a master's degree in criminal justice from Rollins College.
Swisher was a Jacksonville, Fla., police officer, receiving training at the Northeast FLorida Criminal Justice Police Academy, graduating in the top three of his class. He was afforded specialized training as an evidence technician.
During his police service he patrolled an inner-city beat for more than five years, investigating and solving offenses that included murders, robberies, sexual assaults, burglaries and other serious crimes. His accomplishments, besides notable arrests, include several commendations for outstanding police service.
Swisher was one of only a few Jacksonville police officers granted permission and leave to attend law school. However, after graduating in the top third of his law school class from Thomas M. Cooley Law School with a juris doctor degree, the northwest Indiana native decided to settle into private practice in Dowagiac.
During his time in private practice, Swisher has been involved in a wide variety of legal work, from complex litigation in the criminal and civil areas to general practice. Considering that his cases involve everything from divorce to bankruptcy, he prefers "trial lawyer" to "defense attorney," as only about 20 percent of more than 1,000 cases were criminal in nature.
Swisher has served as counsel for the State Bar of Michigan Character and Fitness Committee and adjunct professor at Southwestern Michigan College and Bethel College.
Swisher is admitted to the State Bar of Michigan and is able to practice law in Michigan courts, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana and, more recently, for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Tribal Court.t