Fire Chief in Mississippi Seeks Funds for a Lead Investigator

Greenville, Miss., Fire Chief Ruben Brown wants hire a lead fire investigator to handle arson cases.

The Delta Democrat Times reports that Brown has told the city council that more cases can be solved if he has an investigator assigned to arson cases.

Brown says arson crimes have increased due to gang initiations to vandalism to insurance fraud. At the same time. He says his investigative manpower is limited, especially with investigators having to look into a suspicious fire and a homicide in the same week.

City Council members say they will consider the fire department’s request for an increased budget.

Brown says a trained criminal investigator can aggressively seek convictions for arson.

The most recent suspicious fire occurred this past week when a blaze gutted the Royal Ridge apartments.