SACRAMENTO – In February 2024, CALFIRE announced the return of the Canine Unit to the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM).  Celebrating the return are two California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) members who began training with their canine partners in July.

Arson and Bomb Investigators Nicholas Schroeder and Charles Elder are now teamed up with canine partners who will assist in arson and bomb investigations, assist allied agencies and conduct sweeps at major events.

Schroeder and his new partner Flash completed extensive training and obtained certifications for tasks including explosives.  Elder and his new partner Mocha excel in ignitable liquid detection.  These two teams are ready and available to travel wherever necessary to investigate crimes and protect the public.

The Arson and Bomb Unit has a 50-year history but hasn’t had a canine unit since the 1990s.  The canine unit supports the Arson and Bomb Unit’s mission to investigate the origin, cause, and circumstances of fires, explosions, and bombings on State of California property and in jurisdictions that do not have investigative resources to determine if fires or explosions are criminal in nature and to bring those responsible to justice.

“Congratulations to our CSLEA members, Arson and Bomb Investigators Nicholas Schroeder and Charles Elder.  Completing the training and certification process is a proud accomplishment and offers another layer to public safety and investigations.  We thank them for their service and training and wish them the best with their new partners in public safety.”