House shows support for bill increasing power of attorney general investigators, Capitol guards

By Peter S. Pynadath, Missouri News Network
JEFFERSON CITY — A bill that would allow attorney general-appointed investigators to make arrests and collaborate with other law enforcement agencies was given initial approval Wednesday. Before the bill was approved, an amendment was added extending the ability to make arrests to security guards in the House and Senate.
House Bill 2167, sponsored by Rep. Dolan David, R-Sikeston, would allow investigators hired by the attorney general to be certified as peace officers. This would allow them to arrest individuals and coordinate with other law enforcement agencies when requested. These investigators would also be required to undergo training with the Peace Officer Standards and Training Program.
An amendment to the bill, introduced by Rep. Richard West, R-Wentzville, would certify House and Senate security guards as peace officers, requiring procedural training through the Peace Officer Standards and Training Program. This amendment would also allow security guards to have access to federal and local police databases.
House Bill 1997, sponsored by Rep. Bill Irwin, R-Lee’s Summit, is identical to West’s amendment. Irwin’s bill passed through the Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and currently awaits a vote on the House floor.
Majority Caucus Chair Bennie Cook, R-Texas, introduced another amendment, which would add the state Supervisor of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and their employees to the list of those who would be able to make arrests after completing peace officer training. This amendment was struck down due to strong opposition from Democrats in the House and a lack of support from Republicans, many of whom were absent for the vote on the amendment.
Opponents of the bill and West’s amendment argued on the floor that it would grant undue power to attorney general-selected investigators and Capitol security guards. Rep. David Tyson Smith, D-Columbia, said that there are already avenues for the attorney general’s office to make arrests without the need for investigators to be certified as peace officers.
“We don’t need to give this office a power to hire people who can arrest people in the streets,” Smith said. “There are people who can arrest them in (the attorney general’s office), through their agency. That’s enough.”
Republican proponents of the bill countered that increasing police collaboration will improve security and contribute to a safer environment. David said the bill would get rid of bureaucratic hurdles for the attorney general’s office when investigating other state agencies. David added that investigators at the attorney general’s office need more resources at their disposal due to the complexity of the cases currently under investigation.