ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and the Fire Chief with a Request to Approve a RESOLUTION Approving the CLASSIFICATION of Qualified Members of the Fire Department as Peace Officers for the Purpose of Investigating Fire or Explosions, which are Suspected to be Arson or Arson-Related Crimes.
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BACKGROUND: The Fire Investigation Act (425ILCS25/0.01) describes that one of the duties of the Fire Chief is to determine origin and cause of a fire or explosion. For decades the Peoria Fire Department has had an investigation division as part of the Fire Prevention Bureau.
In early 2010, the fire department analyzed the history of investigation of the fires within the City of Peoria and this analysis showed that arson fires were continually increasing in recent years. The crime of arson is a critical threat to the citizens of Peoria and the Peoria Fire Department. Arson fires in particular cost the citizens of Peoria their lives, thousands of dollars in repair costs, and also increases insurance costs by the increase in rates as well as the cost to the community at large in court costs.
The Peoria Fire Department is responsible for investigating origin and cause of fires that occur in the City of Peoria. The Peoria Fire Department Investigators and the Peoria Police Department work side-by-side on investigations of arson fires.
In 2013-2014, one of the Investigators from the Peoria Fire Department was sent to the University of Illinois Police Training Institute, State of Illinois Arson Certification Course in Champaign, Illinois for training and to enhance his interview skills and investigative techniques. This individual successfully completed the necessary training to be given peace officer status per the Peace Officer Investigation Act.
The Fire/Arson Investigation Unit will work in collaboration with the Peoria Police Department on investigations that involve the act of arson. This will enhance the prosecution require...
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