Vet tapped as U.S. marshal

Tom Roberts is honored to be serving his country, again. As the newly-appointed U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Georgia, the retired Army colonel will be responsible for tracking down fugitives and running the asset forfeiture program for the government.

"It's an honor to serve the country again in these times of uncertainties as we engage in the war on terrorism," said Roberts, a former candidate for Columbia County sheriff in the mid-1990s. "It's an honor to serve in the Marshals Service, the oldest federal law enforcement agency in the country."

Roberts said the Marshals Service began in 1789 and is operated under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Marshals Service is responsible for the apprehension of nearly 270,000 fugitives each year and approximately $900 million in asset forfeitures. The Marshals Service for the Southern District of Georgia is headquartered in Savannah.

"We are responsible for the security of the courts and court personnel, as well as the witness protection program for all federal agencies," said Roberts, a former president of the CSRA Law Enforcement Association. "We also have an air fleet to move prisoners throughout the United States."

Roberts was nominated to serve a four-year term for Marshal for the Southern District of Georgia - which encompasses 43 counties from the Florida and South Carolina borders through the eastern part of Georgia - by U.S. Congressman Charlie Norwood. President Bush nominated Roberts to the post in May and he was appointed in July.

Roberts served nearly 30 years in the Army, having been a military police with assignments to the Army's criminal investigation command where he served as deputy commander and director of operations in Washington. He also served as director of law enforcement and security for the Army's medical command. Roberts is certified as a protection professional and a fraud examiner.

"The U.S. Marshals Service is the only agency that responds to all three branches of the government," said Roberts, adding that the agency is equal in level to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Prior to his appointment as a marshal, Roberts served as president and consultant for J.T. Roberts and Associates, a security and emergency management consulting agency, in Augusta, and he currently maintains a home in Martinez . He is currently on the education and training committee for the International Association for Chiefs of Police and the law enforcement liaison committee for the American Society of Industrial Security.