K-9 handler Fred Sanders and K-9 Mark were certified in May 2001 by the
Maine Criminal Justice Canine School. Mark is trained to detect liquid
accelerants that contain hydrocarbons. The training consisted of five
weeks in Alfred, Maine. The training was sponsored by a scholarship
through State Farm Insurance. Through “Mark’s” sense of smell he is able to locate gasoline and other
liquid accelerants used by arsonist . Mark has worked an average of 50
fires per year since 2001.
The Investigations Unit is responsible
for fire cause determination in the City of Shreveport. The unit is
comprised of four investigators and one Assistant Chief of Fire
Prevention. Those assigned to the unit are POST Certified Peace
Officers with full arrest powers
Fire Investigators
undergo extensive training which includes Fire /Arson Investigations and
Interview and Interrogation Training provided by the National Fire
Academy. Each Investigator attends the Shreveport Regional Police
Academy to attain knowledge in the enforcement of local, state and
federal criminal statutes.
Fire Investigators examine fire scenes to determine the origin and cause of fires.
