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National College Credit Recommendation Service

Board of Regents  |  University of the State of New York

New York City Fire Department | Evaluated Learning Experience

Fire and Criminal Supervisor Investigator (INV 300)

Formerly Supervising Fire Marshal Training (INV 300)
Course Category: 
Length: 

Version 1: 224 hours (6 weeks 2 days). Version 2 , 3, and 4: 291 hours (7 weeks and 2 days). Version 5: 276 hours (7 weeks and 2 days). 

Location: 
New York City Fire Academy, Randalls Island.
Dates: 

Version 1: January 2000 - August 2007. Version 2: September 2007 - September 2012. Version 3: October 2012 - December 2012. Version 4: January 2013 - May 2022. Version 5: June 2022 - Present. 

Instructional delivery format: 
Traditional classroom model
Learner Outcomes: 

Version 1 and 2: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: supervise the operation of a squad at a borough command, assign duties, counsel and evaluate the work of fire marshals, conduct on-the- job training, review fire investigation reports and respond to major alarm fires. Version 3: Learner outcomes from Version 1 and 2, additionally, students will be able to: prioritize jobs, assign duties, and manage multiple investigations; counsel members under their command and evaluate their performance; effectively conduct drills and on-the-job training; conduct roll calls and record members' payroll entries; inspect members' safety equipment; oversee and evaluate physical examinations performed by Fire Marshals; review investigative reports, make recommendations, and process paperwork, report findings and other relevant information to superiors. Version 4 and 5: Students will be able to: properly conduct a roll-call of Bureau of Fire Investigation (BFI)  members with the required journal entries; have a knowledge of the Bureau response policy; assign and prioritize open case assignments to a squad of fire marshal investigators; analyze and perform case management of the squad and have the ability to re-assign incomplete cases; have the ability, to create a written tour synopsis report, prepared for upper management; effectively prepare and produce necessary notifications to upper management; complete, the required city time entries, of subordinates; properly manage, oversee and approve, any required overtime of Bureau members; inspect members to ensure, they possess, the proper equipment and are dressed appropriately for the tour; complete required reports for any injuries, exposures and accidents, to Bureau members; manage and oversee court appearances and subpoenas of fire marshal investigators; manage and inspect, the line-ups of suspects performed by fire marshals; ensure department equal employment opportunity policies are followed; direct members to counseling, if necessary; direct fire marshals, to refer cases to the juvenile fire-setters intervention program, if required; oversee thefts of, or occurring inside of, department property; properly  complete, send or distribute department letterhead reports and memorandums; supervise and support inter-agency cooperation; direct fire marshal investigators to utilize BFI resources when required; direct, oversee and manage any undercover operations and surveillance performed by members of the Bureau; manage and handle, the arrest of, a member of the Bureau; select, conduct and deliver a drill topic to a squad of fire marshals; properly document and measure the effectiveness of the drill topic; have an advanced knowledge and understanding of the current BFI directives and interim orders; refer to and utilize the supervisor reference manual when necessary; utilize the BFI CTRS system for case assignments and case management of a squad; have an intermediate to advanced understanding, of self-defense techniques, and proper use of equipment (handcuffs, expandable baton, OC spray) that may be needed, in self-defense, or to, take a person into custody, direct or assist in taking a person into custody; manage a specialized unit within the Bureau; utilize the scientific method, in accordance with NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 921 and 033; have an advanced knowledge of fire science, fire chemistry and fire dynamics; have an advanced understanding  and assist fire marshals with the New York State penal law, criminal procedure law, and criminal case law; supervise, guide and oversee interviews and/or interrogations of individuals during a fire marshal investigation; manage inter-agency collaboration, as needed, during the course of an investigation; supervise and assist in, the identifying, collection, documentation and processing, of any, potential evidence, during an investigation; manage communications, in an effective manner, of fire marshals, dealing with individuals, who may be in crisis, as a result of an event, that has occurred; supervise and oversee, the processing, of an individual, who has been arrested and will be brought into the criminal justice system; provide guidance and assistance, if necessary, to a fire marshal, when, they are called to testify , as an expert witness, in the origin and cause of fire, in both criminal and civil court proceedings.

Instruction: 

Version 1, 2 and 3: Major topics include: Activity and Operations Report (136 Log), B.F.I. Forms, injuries/line of duty injuries, exposures/vehicular accidents, social club task force, fire work task force (FEU), firearms policy, firearms discharge, propane fires and combustible roofs, confidential informants, ethics, post shooting trauma counseling, juvenile fire intervention program, joint terrorist task force, joint arson task force, and arrest by fire marshal. leadership competencies-leadership abilities, leadership models, visioning, fostering conflict resolution, assessing situations quickly and accurately, communication and time management and organizational behavior. Version 4 and 5: This course is limited to uniform members of the New York City Fire Department firefighters with a minimum of five years field experience to be eligible for promotion. Fire Marshals perform responsible work in the investigation of causes, circumstances, and origins of fires and/or explosions. Pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Law and the New York City Administrative Code, they serve as police officers in the City of NY and carry firearms. Fire Marshals search for and examine evidence at the fire scene; analyze and interpret laboratory results; interview witnesses and/or suspects; effect arrests of suspects; prepare and serve subpoenas on witnesses; obtain sworn testimony from witnesses; testify as expert witnesses at hearings and trials; prepare detailed written investigative reports resulting from investigations and interviews; and drive motor vehicles.

Credit recommendation: 

Version 1: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category 3 semester hours in Fire Officer, 1 semester hour in Fire Administration or EMS Management, or Business Management, and 2 semester hours in Fire Instructor, or EMS Instructor, or Speech Communications (12/03 - review conducted by the American Council on Education). Version 2: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 6 semester hours distributed as follows: 3 semester hours in Fire Service Administration or Criminal Justice and 3 semester hours in Management (11/07) (10/08 revalidation). Version 3: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 6 semester hours distributed as follows: 2 semester hours in Fire Service Administration or Criminal Justice and 2 semester hours in Management or 2 semester hours in Education Methodology (5/12 revalidation). Version 4: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category OR in the  upper division baccalaureate degree category, 8 semester hours distributed as follows: 3 semester hours in Fire Service Administration or Criminal Justice and 3 semester hours in Management and 2 semester hours in Education Methodology (7/17 revalidation). Version 5: In the lower division baccalaureate / associate degree category OR in the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 9 semester hours distributed as follows: 3 semester hours in Fire Service Administration or Criminal Justice, 3 semester hours in Management, and 3 semester hours in Education Methodology (6/22 revalidation). 

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