The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) Fire Board recently approved a plan to assign sworn peace officer status to the district’s fire marshal, deputy fire marshal and fire investigator positions.
Drawing a distinction between fire investigators and inspectors, the peace officer designation will afford investigators capabilities not currently available to the district’s fire inspectors. These will include the ability to detain, question and arrest suspects; book suspects into jail; bring charges to the district attorney and issue subpoenas. “The main benefit is that it changes our ability to have further access to information regarding contacts we make in the field,” said ECCFPD Fire Marshal Steve Aubert.