Committee hears debate over Attorney General's authority to commission investigators

Representative David Dolan told the Judiciary Committee House Bill 2,167 would allow the Attorney General's Office to commission its own POST‑certified investigators instead of relying on reserve deputy commissions through local sheriffs. Dolan said the change streamlines investigations the AGO conducts statewide and avoids conflicts when the AG must investigate an agency that provides commissions.

Colby Stosberg of the Missouri Attorney General's Office testified in support and said AGO investigators are POST‑certified and essential to statewide public‑safety work; Stosberg said internal commissioning would eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and noted other state entities already have direct commissioning authority. He added the AGO already exercises some law‑enforcement functions and uses statewide law‑enforcement systems.

Committee members pressed the AGO on whether commissioned investigators would arrest people and how they would interact with local law enforcement. Stosberg and Representative Dolan said arrests are rare and local jurisdictions would typically take custody; they said commissioning would mainly provide investigators with the credentials and protections needed in the field.

A state public advocate (Arnie C.) testified in opposition, arguing the change grants too much power to the Attorney General, raises the risk of political patronage and warned against creating an arrest authority that could be misused. The committee concluded public testimony on HB 2167 and adjourned for the day; no vote was recorded during the hearing.