[Adopted 11-27-1996 by Ord. No. MC-3257 (Ch. 55, Art. II, of the 1987 Code)]
[Amended 8-6-1997 by Ord. No. MC-3328]
Within the Department of Fire, there shall be an Arson Investigation Unit composed of that number of individuals or an individual, as determined by the Chief of the Department of Fire, as he deems necessary and appropriate. This unit shall be empowered pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-7.1, the enabling statute and this article which shall set forth the powers, duties and responsibilities of said unit.
[Amended 8-6-1997 by Ord. No. 3328]
Only paid members of the Department of Fire may be assigned to an Arson Investigation Unit created pursuant to this article and the statute. Before any member shall be assigned to an Arson Investigation Unit, he/she shall have successfully completed a basic training course for police officers at an appropriate course, as approved by the Police Training Commission, and an arson investigation training course approved by the Department of Law and Public Safety of the State of New Jersey.
[Amended 8-6-1997 by Ord. No. 3328]
Any member of the Department of Fire who is assigned to the Arson Investigation Unit, pursuant to the statutes and this article, shall attend and successfully complete in-service training programs as required by the Division of Criminal Justice of the State of New Jersey.
The Arson Investigation Unit shall be responsible for conducting investigations of arsons, suspicious fires and explosions within the municipality to determine the source and origin of the conflagration. This article does not grant any authority for search and seizure of property or individuals, without first obtaining permission and authority from the Office of the Camden County Prosecutor or his/her designee. The powers and functions of the Arson Investigation Unit are limited to that investigation of source and origin and are not to be expanded beyond this grant of authority.
The members of the Arson Investigation Unit shall coordinate their activities with all other law enforcement agencies, notwithstanding the grant of powers within this article. The Arson Investigation Unit shall be responsible to cooperate and report to the Department of Police of the City of Camden, the Office of the Camden County Fire Marshal, the Office of the Camden County Prosecutor and the Department of Law and Public Safety of the State of New Jersey, as determined by its Director.
[Amended 2-26-1998 by Ord. No. MC-3372]
Any member who is assigned to the Arson Investigation Unit shall have the same powers and authority as police officers while engaged in the actual performance of arson investigation duties, including the right to possess and carry a firearm while so engaged or when actually on call to perform said duties. Before a weapon is assigned to any member of the Arson Investigation Unit, such person shall undergo the same background checks and training required of police officers and shall be certified as qualified to carry a weapon by the Chief of Police of the City of Camden.