ATF and Indianapolis Police, Fire Departments Team Up

Contact: Special Agent Kim Riddell For Immediate Release

ATF Public Information Officer Sept. 15, 2010

(614) 827-8474 www.atf.gov

ATF and Indianapolis Police, Fire Departments Team Up

Task Force Will Enhance Resources and Coordination

Indianapolis - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the

Department of Public Safety’s divisions Indianapolis Fire Investigations Section (IFIS) and

Indianapolis Police (IMPD) have formed a task force focused on investigating fire and explosive

incidents. The task force formalizes the longstanding partnership of ATF and IFIS and provides

additional federal resources and potential funding to IFIS. ATF and IFIS recognize the benefit of

combining resources, intelligence and personnel to better serve the expanding Indianapolis

Metropolitan area.

ATF resources include an Indianapolis based Special Agent with expertise in fire

investigations. This Special Agent Certified Fire Investigator possesses many years of fire

investigation experience and serves on the elite ATF National Response Team which responds to

major fire and explosives incidents throughout the nation. Additionally, an Indianapolis based

Special Agent Certified Explosives Specialists, Explosives Enforcement Officer and a Special

Agent Certified Explosives Specialist K-9 handler support the task force with their expertise in

explosives, explosives incidents, and post blast scene investigation.

The IFIS is comprised of personnel from both the Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD)

and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), the Indianapolis Fire

Investigations Section is recognized as one of the premier Fire Investigation Sections in the

United States. IFD and IMPD each have assigned five members to the team. The members

working in teams are cross trained in fire and police disciplines. Cross training efficiency has

enabled the section to possess one of the highest arson clearance rates in the country. During

2010 the section has made 33 arrests and is on par with exceeding the 67 arson arrests in 2009.

The IFIS closed case rate is 1.5 times the national average.

“ATF is honored to join forces with the Indianapolis Fire Investigations Section. I expect

past investigative successes, such as the Daniel Annee arson for hire case, will continue and that

the task force will be a force multiplier working for a safe and secure community,” said Chris

Sadowski, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Columbus Field Division.

“The partnership between ATF, IMPD and IFD provides a successful national model

demonstrating the importance of public safety partnerships in keeping our communities safe,”

said Public Safety Director Frank G. Straub.

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We are proud of the work our Fire Investigations Section continues to do each and every

day. The IFD/IMPD partnership we have, has given our section the opportunity for its many

successes. We look forward to our working relationship with the ATF and the expertise and

experience they will bring to our program. We appreciate the opportunity to be on the cutting

edge of what could be the national model for arson sections across the country,” said Chief Brian

Sanford, Indianapolis Fire Department.

The ATF/IFIS task force will enhance and further investigations achieving even greater

success by multiplying manpower and resources. The task force will continue to utilize the latest

investigative methods including Touch DNA, incident mapping, suspect tracking and proactive

investigations.