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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09081992 - 2.3 to � 3 TO* BOARD. OF SUPERVISORS FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR County Administrator DATE: August 6, 1992 --' SUBJECT: CARRYING OF WEAPONS BY ARSON INVESTIGATORS Specific Request(s) or Recommendation(s) & Background & Justification RECOMMENDATIONS : Authorize four Supervising Fire Inspectors in the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and two Supervising Fire Inspectors in the Riverview Fire Protection District to carry and use weapons and other safety equipment in performance of their assignments as fire inspectors . REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND: The Chiefs of the Contra Costa County and Riverview Fire Districts have requested authorization for certain Supervising Investigators to carry weapons and use other safety equipment in conducting investigations of arson and other fires . The Penal Code recognizes Fire Investigators as peace officers and authorizes investigators to carry weapons if authorized by the employing agency. The investigators operate in a similar manner and environment as police officers or deputy sheriffs . Fire Investigators typically begin their investigations during the later stages of a fire. The on-scene investigation usually continues after the fire is completely out and other fire personnel have left the scene. This situation results in the Fire Investigator being isolated at a crime scene at which the arsonist may still be present. According to a study by the California Department of Forestry, in the majority of arson fires the arsonist either remains at or returns to the fire scene within 24 hours . The possibility of encountering an arsonist at a deserted crime scene presents a serious threat to the life and well-being of the Fire Investigator. After the initial on-scene investigation, the Fire Investigator continues the investigation by gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses and suspects with the objective of arresting the suspected arsonist. All of these activities expose the Fire Investigators to the same dangers as other peace officers . Continued on Attachment: X— YES Signature: Recommendation of County Administrator Recommendation of Board Committee Approve Other Signature(s) : Action of Board on:— �'9 Approved as Recommended-X—Other x APPROVED SIX Supervising Fire Inspectors between the Contra Costa County and Riverview Fire Protection districts to carry and use weapons and other safety equipment. Vote of Supervisors : I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN Unanimous (Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE Ayes : . Noes : —) BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN. Contact: Terry McGraw Attested: September 8, 1992 cc: Chief Riverview Fire Phil Batchelor, Clerk of Chief Contra Costa Fire the Board of Supervisors County Administrator /J and County Administrator By. - C� DEPUTY I The fire chiefs presented information indicating that several other fire agencies in the State have implemented programs similar to the one proposed for Contra Costa County. Those agencies are as follows : i West Sacramento Fire Department a Stockton Fire Department • Vacaville Fire Department • American River Fire District • California State Fire Marshal ' s Arson Unit • California Department of Forestry • San Francisco Fire Department • Yolo County Arson and Bomb Unit • Sacramento County Fire Department • Sacramento City Fire Department The County Administrator' s Office and the Personnel Department met with the chiefs and other fire personnel in June. The County Administrator indicated that he would recommend the program to the Board of Supervisors subject to complying with the following criteria: I . The program will be limited to a small number of experienced senior personnel . Status : The program will be limited to four specified Supervising Investigators in Contra Costa County Fire and two such positions in Riverview Fire. 2 . The individuals must receive adequate training. Status : Required training will follow guidelines established by the California Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (POST) . 3 . The districts must develop and adopt appropriate policies and procedures . Status : The districts have developed policies and procedures based on policies and procedures developed by the Police Chiefs ' Association of Contra Costa County. 4 . The program must not result in any significant on-going expense such as salary differentials . Status : The staff assigned to the program are all management employees . There will be no additional salary or benefit costs . The employees are willing to participate in the program as a matter of personal safety. After the June meeting, the chiefs completed the necessary tasks to make the program operational and proceeded to enroll six senior management personnel in a weapons training class . It was necessary to purchase the firearms and related equipment to participate in the training class . The chiefs enrolled their personnel in the class at that time because of a window of opportunity to obtain the services of a highly-qualified instructor for the Sheriff 's Office. The instructor would not be available for several months as a result of a scheduled vacation and subsequent training commitments . The actions of the chiefs were taken under the assumption that the County Administrator would obtain the clearance of the Board of Supervisors before the program was fully implemented. The County Administrator' s Office was dilatory in submitting this issue to the Board of Supervisors for approval because of concentration on the State and County budget problems .