NCJ Number
58277
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 4-16
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON ARSON TASK FORCES IN NEW YORK CITY AND SEATTLE, WASH., THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES EFFORTS TO BETTER COORDINATE ARSON INVESTIGATIONS BY FORMING TASK FORCES COMPOSED OF POLICE AND FIRE MARSHALS.
Abstract
TRADITIONALLY, POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE NEGLECTED ARSON CASES, LEAVING TO FIRE DEPARTMENTS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DETECTING ARSON AND TRACKING DOWN FIRESETTERS. BUT FIRE DEPARTMENTS EITHER DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CONDUCT LENGTHY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OR, IF POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS SHARE INVESTIGATORY RESPONSIBILITIES, JEALOUSIES AND JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES OFTEN HAMPER EFFECTIVE FIRE INVESTIGATING. HOWEVER, THE ARSON PROBLEM HAS GROWN TO THE POINT WHERE THE PRESS, FEDERAL LEGISLATORS, AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE BEGINNING TO CALL FOR STRONGER ATTACKS ON ARSON. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, 144,000 INCENDIARY FIRES DESTROYED $1.6 BILLION WORTH OF PROPERTY IN 1977, KILLED 700 PEOPLE, AND INJURED 10,000 TO 15,000. MANY COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY OLD INNER CITY AREAS SUCH AS THE SOUTH BRONX IN NEW YORK, ARE VULNERABLE TO ARSON. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ARSON INCREASED 325 PERCENT BETWEEN 1965 AND 1975. SEVERAL FACTORS EXIST WHICH COMPLICATE ARSON INVESTIGATIONS: AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF INVESTIGATORS (ARSON REQUIRES AN INTENSIVE INVESTIGATION JUST TO PROVE THAT A CRIME WAS COMMITTED), A SHORT SUPPLY OF PROSECUTORS WHO KNOW HOW TO HANDLE ARSON CASES, AND CONSPIRACIES BETWEEN POLICE, FIRE OFFICIALS, AND ARSONISTS FOR MUTUAL PROFIT. TO CHANGE THIS PICTURE, CONGRESS RECLASSIFIED ARSON AS A PART I CRIME IN 1977, THEREBY PROVIDING FBI EXPERTISE AND MORE FEDERAL MONEY TO LOCAL ARSON INVESTIGATORS. STRONG ARGUMENTS FOR MORE POLICE INVOLVEMENT IN ARSON ARE DISCUSSED ALONG WITH CHANGE OF INSURANCE INDUSTRY POLICIES WHICH ENCOURAGE ARSON FOR PROFIT. IN NEW YORK, A CITY WITH 12,000 CASES OF ARSON IN 1978, COMPETITION BETWEEN FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BRONX COORDINATED ARSON PROGRAM (BCAP) WHICH GIVES POLICE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL FOLLOWUP INVESTIGATIONS AND LIMITS A FIRE MARSHAL'S DUTIES TO DETERMINING THE CAUSES OF THE FIRE. BOTH SIDES IN THIS INTENSE DISPUTE HAVE ACCEPTED THE SOLUTION. UNLIKE NEW YORK CITY, SEATTLE HAD A MINOR BUT GROWING ARSON PROBLEM AND FEW JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES. THE CITY'S TASK FORCE SOUGHT TO INCREASE TRAINING OF FIRE MARSHALS (WHO ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR ARSON INVESTIGATIONS), ENCOURAGE CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND INCREASE PUBLICITY ON THE ARSON PROBLEM. SEATTLE'S ARSON RATE IS ONE OF THE FEW THAT IS DECLINING. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CAUSES OF ARSON AND THE NATURE OF ARSONISTS IS INCLUDED. SOME ILLUSTRATIONS ARE USED. (WJR)