Each special investigator, appointed by the animal health commissioner, pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 47-416, and amendments thereto, shall have the authority to make arrests, conduct searches and seizures and carry firearms while investigating violations of the provisions of article 4 of chapter 47 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, and while investigating livestock theft. The director as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-5602, and amendments thereto, is authorized to offer and carry out a special course of instruction for special investigators performing law enforcement duties under authority of this section. Such special investigators shall not carry firearms without having first successfully completed such special law enforcement training course.