This article describes the work and success of the Utica Arson Strike Force.
Created in 1997 in response to a very high arson rate in the city, the Utica Arson Strike Force included members from the Utica Police Department, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department, the Utica Fire Department, the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and the New York State Police. In addition to funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the strike force also had technological assistance and equipment from the National Institute of Justice’s National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center. Although the strike force existed for a limited time period, it was able to reduce arson in the city by 50 percent and enjoyed a 52 percent clearance rate and a 100 percent conviction rate. The success of the strike force was in the pooling of expertise from many different agencies. Contact information is offered.