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Rockland council introduces ordinance to formalize fire and arson investigation unit with limited peace-officer powers
Summary
On Feb. 24 the Rockland City Council voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance formally establishing a fire and arson investigation unit within the Rockland Fire Department and authorizing designated personnel limited peace-officer powers under California Penal Code section 830.37 to enable DOJ/FBI CJIS access.
The Rockland City Council on Feb. 24 introduced an ordinance to formally establish a fire and arson investigation unit within the Rockland Fire Department, authorize designated personnel to exercise limited peace-officer powers under California Penal Code section 830.37, and enable the unit to obtain an originating-agency identifier (ORI) for criminal-justice information access.
Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Brayton said the unit has been operating administratively since January 2023 and that the ordinance provides the administrative authority necessary to apply for DOJ and FBI CJIS access. "Adoption of the proposed ordinance provides the necessary formal authorization to support issuance of an ORI and ensure compliant access to criminal justice information systems," he said, adding the ordinance is not intended to expand the department's general law-enforcement authority and that there is no fiscal impact to the general fund.
A lifelong Rockland resident, Benjamin Bjorkman, spoke during public comment and questioned whether a formal arson unit was warranted given published safety rankings and urged fiscal responsibility if the council moved forward. The city manager and other council members responded by noting the value of a professional arson investigator, the administrative existence of the unit since 2023, and that formal adoption enables compliant access to criminal-justice databases used in investigations.
A council member moved, a second was offered, and the council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance. The introduction initiates the formal adoption process; councilors said they expect the unit to continue coordinating closely with the Rockland Police Department and allied agencies in complex cases.
Why this matters: Formalizing the unit and enabling DOJ/FBI information access can strengthen local investigative capacity for incendiary fires, suspected arson and related insurance-fraud matters; it also clarifies administrative responsibilities and compliance obligations for access to criminal-justice systems.
