Fischer discharged as director of state agency

QUINCY — Brent Fischer was fired from his position as the executive director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board on Sept. 8 after an investigation and three-month suspension with pay,

Fischer, who is from Quincy and formerly served as Adams County Sheriff, confirmed his discharge in an interview with Muddy River News Friday morning.

“Over the last two years, there have been a number of changes made to the (ILETSB) board,” Fischer said. “It had become apparent that they were waiting to make a change with the director position. So, yes, I have been discharged from my duties. I believe in the agency and its mission. We have to support law enforcement now more than ever. I believe in law enforcement. We have to have good police officers who are properly trained. It is becoming difficult to recruit officers because of today’s charged political climate. We have to find and train good men and women who are still willing to serve.”

Fischer, who had an annual salary in excess of $156,000, said the board voted to terminate his employment on Sept. 8. Keith Calloway, the deputy director of the agency under Fischer, is listed as the interim director. He did not return a phone call to Muddy River News. Neither did the board chair, Mitchell R. Davis III, the police chief for Hazel Crest, Ill.

Quincy Police Chief Rob Copley was a long-time member of the ILETS Board whose term ended earlier this year. He was not reappointed.

Fischer was appointed to the position by the ILETS Board in December 2015 while Republican Bruce Rauner was governor. He was the second Adams County resident to hold a state agency director position under Rauner at the time. Republican Jeff Mays was director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security from 2015 to early 2019.

Fischer, a Democrat, served as Adams County Sheriff for 17 years before his appointment. He began his career with Adams County as a bailiff in 1991. He was hired as a deputy in 1994, then defeated long-time Republican incumbent Robert Nall in the race for sheriff in 1998. Fischer won re-election twice and served as sheriff until his appointment to the ILETSB post. He also served 10 years as a board member of ILETSB and was its chairman from 2010 to 2012.

Fischer replaced another Quincy native, Kevin McClain, as head of ILETSB. McClain is a brother of Mike McClain, the former state representative, lobbyist and confidant to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. McClain is under federal indictment for his alleged involvement in the Commonwealth Edison bribery scheme. He has pleaded not guilty.

Fischer is not connected to the federal indictment.