KRS 95A.100: Fire investigators -- Appointment, oath, and training -- Peace officer

powers -- Prohibited acts.

(1) As used in this section and KRS 95A.102, "fire investigator" means a professional

firefighter, as defined in KRS 95A.210, who has been appoi nted to investigate

offenses under KRS Chapter 513 and to exercise peace officer powers.

(2) The chief of a fire department may appoint a professional firefighter, as defined in

KRS 95A.210, to be a fire investigator and to exercise peace officer powers in order

to investigate crimes set out in KRS Chapter 513 and other crimes discovered in the

course of investigation.

(3) An individual appointed to be a fire investigator and to exercise peace officer

powers shall take an oath to faithfully perform the duti es of his or her office, shall

affirm that he or she possesses the minimum qualifications under KRS 15.382, and

shall undergo a basic training course approved by the Kentucky Law Enforcement

Council.

(4) The employing agency or jurisdiction of the fire inv estigator shall pay for the

training required for certification by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council.

(5) Upon the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council's verification that the required

standards have been met, a fire investigator shall have peace officer po wers to

investigate crimes set out in KRS Chapter 513 and other crimes discovered in the

course of investigation.

(6) A fire investigator may exercise his or her powers in a location other than the city

or county in which he or she was appointed upon the request of:

(a) The chief of police, the chief of a fire department, the sheriff, or the chief

executive of the city or county in which the fire investigator's services are to

be utilized; or

(b) A federal agency that has an ongoing investigation in the cit y or county in

which the fire investigator's services are to be utilized.

(7) A fire investigator shall not:

(a) Patrol the roads, streets, or highways;

(b) Issue traffic citations; or

(c) Perform general law enforcement duties outside of investigating crimes set

out in KRS Chapter 513 and other crimes discovered in the course of

investigation.