2018-028 Arson Investigator Vehicle and TrainingDate: March 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-028
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Information regarding Fire Department investigator training and vehicle
BACKGROUND:
At the March 6 City Council meeting, council members requested information on the fire
investigation vehicle markings, typical duties and responsibilities of arson investigators
(including why they hold peace officer certifications), and what type of training investigators are
required to go through.
DISCUSSION:
Fire Investigator Vehicles
The fire department vehicle that was used in the recent traffic stop, is a white 2010 Chevrolet
Tahoe containing the police pursuit package. The vehicle has the words “DENTON
FIRE/RESCUE” and “K-9” on both the left and right sides, as well as on the rear of the vehicle.
The Fire Department patch is also displayed on the left and right sides of the vehicle. The vehicle
has a light bar on the roof and a rotating spotlight on the driver’s side. See pictures below for the
vehicle details.
Date: March 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-028
This vehicle was approved for replacement this fiscal year and a new red Chevrolet Suburban,
with the new equipment/light package, was ordered January 12, 2018. The new vehicle will be
marked in a similar fashion as the current vehicle, although the body of the vehicle will be red
instead of white. The new light package will include all of the lights seen on the current vehicle,
plus 6 red/blue LED lights in the vehicle’s front grill, LED lights on the side mirrors, and
red/blue LED lights on the side running boards.
Arson Investigator Responsibilities and Training
City of Denton Arson investigators are commissioned peace officers by the Texas Commission
on Law Enforcement. These investigators are required to be commissioned peace officers in
order to enforce the laws of the State of Texas including, but certainly not limited to, arson. The
Fire department currently has seven commissioned peace officers. Two investigators hold Master
Peace Officers certifications, one holds an Advanced Peace Officer certification, and four hold
Basic Peace Officer certifications.
The investigator who conducted the stop on Mr. Hood holds a Master Peace Officer Certification
with over 4,640 hours of documented training. He is also a deputized United States Marshal
assigned to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as a task force officer.
Commissioned investigators are required to complete and pass a basic peace officer academy, as
is required of every state commissioned peace officer. Investigators are required to complete
annual continuing education courses, as governed by the Texas Commission on Law
Enforcement; continuing education, as required by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection;
and, other continuing education that is required for their various certifications and disciplines.
The investigator who initiated the stop received 436 hours of training over the past two years.
The typical duties of arson investigators within the Fire Department are to investigate and to
determine fire origin and cause, and to investigate the crime of arson. Investigators are also
tasked with conducting fire code inspections and fire code-related complaints. All investigators
have a duty, as peace officers, to prevent crime, preserve the peace, protect life and property,
detect and arrest violators of the law, and enforce the laws of the United States, the State of
Texas, and all local ordinances, and do, on limited occasions or under atypical circumstances,
conduct traffic stops to effectuate that duty.
STAFF CONTACT:
Brad Lahart, Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal
(940) 349-8860
Brad.Lahart@cityofdenton.com