Marc Alan Fischer
Agency patch
Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist

Marc Alan Fischer

Accident Veteran
End of Watch August 9, 2024
Age 54
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
The Vigil Panel 183 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: California Weapon: Toxic chemicals Offender: In custody

Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist Marc Fischer died from accidental exposure to narcotics in the United States Penitentiary Atwater's mailroom at 1 Federal Way in Atwater, California.

At 11:36, Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist Fischer opened a letter addressed to an inmate with the inmate present. Once the papers were taken out of the envelope, he realized the pages were soaked and requested another Correctional Officer to check the letter, too. The officer, who was wearing thin gloves, believed the pages were coated with narcotics and made photocopies of the pages for the inmate. She returned the soaked paper to Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist Fischer for review and then placed it in a plastic bag, which was put on a cart for review later. Both Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist Fischer and the officer went and washed their hands. When Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist Fischer gave the inmate the copied pages, the inmate became irate, but finally left the mail room.

Five minutes later, Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist Fischer asked for medical help, and the other correctional officer stated that she did not feel well either. While en route to Emmanuel Hospital, paramedics had to administer CPR. Despite life-saving measures, Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist Fischer passed away at 2:14 p.m.

The tests on the paper revealed that there were at least five different controlled substances, including Furanylfentanyl.

Two suspects were apprehended and charged along with the inmate for Conspiracy to Distribute and Distribution of a Controlled Substance with a prior felony drug conviction. They were also charged with providing or attempting to provide an inmate with a narcotic drug.

Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist Fischer was a Coast Guard veteran who had served with the United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons for 23 years. He started his career as a Corrections Officer.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, his sister, nieces, and nephews.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-2034AE6E
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist Fischer gave the United States Department of Justice 23 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjfbpfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 9, 2024
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Toxic chemicals
Offender In custody

Military Service

Marc Alan Fischer served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist Marc Alan Fischer is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons, 4 of 34 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 11.8% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
4
of 34 officers
11.8% Accident
DC — Statewide
454
of 1,419 officers
32% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Marc Alan Fischer's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Marc Alan Fischer Compares

Age at End of Watch
54
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
23
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

Offender Outcome

In custody

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Marc Alan Fischer is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location