1998 Minnesota Statutes

     299F.058 Arson strike force. 

    Subdivision 1.    Arson strike force.  A 
 multijurisdictional arson strike force is established to provide 
 expert investigative and prosecutorial assistance to local 
 agencies on request in complex or serious cases involving 
 suspected arson. 

    Subd. 2.    Membership.  (a) The arson strike force 
 consists of representatives from the following agencies and 
 organizations: 

    (1) the division of fire marshal; 

    (2) the bureau of criminal apprehension; 

    (3) the office of attorney general; 

    (4) the Minnesota county attorneys association; 

    (5) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms of the 
 United States Treasury Department; 

    (6) the Minneapolis police and fire arson unit; 

    (7) the St. Paul police and fire arson unit; 

    (8) licensed private detectives selected by the state fire 
 marshal or the attorney general or their designees; and 

    (9) any other arson experts the arson strike force deems 
 appropriate to include. 

    The arson strike force, as necessary, may consult and work 
 with representatives of property insurance agencies and 
 organizations and any other private organizations that have 
 expertise in arson investigations and prosecutions. 

    (b) Representatives from the attorney general's office and 
 the county attorneys association who are members of the arson 
 strike force may assist in administering the strike force. 

    (c) The strike force expires June 30, 2001. 

    Subd. 3.    Investigative duties.  (a) The arson strike 
 force shall be available on a statewide basis to assist local 
 public safety agencies in investigating the following types of 
 suspected arson cases: 

    (1) serial fires; 

    (2) multijurisdictional fires; 

    (3) fires causing death or serious injury to a public 
 safety officer; 

    (4) fires resulting in multiple deaths or injuries; or 

    (5) fires causing over $1,000,000 in damage. 

    (b) The arson strike force shall establish a mechanism for 
 informing local public safety agencies that it is available to 
 assist in the investigation of the suspected arson cases 
 described in paragraph (a). 

    (c) The arson strike force shall, by means of a memorandum 
 of understanding among the involved agencies, develop and 
 implement a protocol for the strike force's activation and 
 operation in local cases of suspected arson. 

    (d) The arson strike force shall assist the arson training 
 unit established in section 299F.051 in developing and 
 implementing educational programs for public safety personnel on 
 investigating arson cases. 

    Subd. 4.    Prosecution duties.  (a) The arson strike 
 force may identify and establish a team of prosecutors with 
 experience in arson cases who will provide advice, on request, 
 to local prosecutors who are prosecuting or preparing to 
 prosecute arson cases.  This team shall include prosecutors from 
 the attorney general's office and county prosecutors who are 
 identified and selected by the county attorneys association. 

    (b) The arson strike force shall assist the arson training 
 unit established in section 299F.051 in developing educational 
 programs and manuals to assist prosecutors in prosecuting arson 
 cases. 

    HIST: 1997 c 239 art 8 s 20