Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, announce training sessions connected to formation of the new Hudson Valley Arson and Explosives Task Force
Free training offered to area emergency service providers with fire investigation duties.
Hudson Valley Arson and Explosives Task Force invites participation of Police and Fire Agencies in Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Putnam, Sullivan, Rockland and Westchester Counties, and the New York State Police.
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler, in conjunction with the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, announces the creation of The Hudson Valley Arson and Explosives Task Force. This regional initiative was created to facilitate the criminal prosecution of fire, arson, and explosives cases and to assist our law enforcement and agency partners in their efforts to protect the safety of over 400,000 residents amid increases fire activity in Orange County, as well as those in adjacent counties.
The New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (“ATF”) is sponsoring a series of trainings for area emergency service providers with Fire Investigation duties. The recent retaliatory arson involving a New York State Trooper demonstrates the continuing need to prosecute arson cases and deter future crimes. The training curriculum will serve to help build skillsets over time and help our fire investigation personnel meet the new legal standard for criminal prosecutions. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office and ATF are providing training free of charge for law enforcement and emergency service providers with fire investigation dutiesall our agency partners involved in fire investigation. The goal is to improve the quality of Fire Investigations and Arson Prosecutions in the Hudson Valley and to help keep residents in the region safe. The issuance of a new legal standards for fire investigation units changed the legal standard for bringing criminal arson cases, and led to the creation of The Hudson Valley Arson and Explosives Task Force and these trainings are designed to address those changes.
The training curriculum is designed to serve the region and will address a shortage in training opportunities. In addition, the training curriculum will bring current and prospective fire Investigators and fire investigation units closer to compliance with national standards for fire investigator qualifications and fire investigation unit requirements. Training will be held one (1) evening per month in Goshen, NY. All classes will be taught by Bureau, of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Arson, and Explosives industry experts from across the Northeast United States.
Topics will include:
• Overview of applicable national guides and standards: 1.) NFPA 1033 Fire Investigator Qualifications, 2.) NFPA 1321 Standard for Fire Investigation Units, and 3.) NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
• Evidence Recognition, Crime Scene Preservation & Fire Scene Photography
• Electrical Fire Cause Determination & Elimination
• Fourth Amendment Constitutional Concerns, Evidence collection, Evidence Submission, Evidence Production and Chain of Custody
• NFPA 921 National Standard Compliant Report Writing and Scene Diagraming
• Expert Witness testimony & CV writing, Formatting, and Updates
The training schedule is as follows:
1.) On Wednesday, December 11, 2024: A one-day “Arson Awareness for Police Personnel” training course .
i. The course is being sponsored by DA Hoovler and presented by DA Arson Task Force Members along with the ATF.
ii. This is an arson awareness level course and will be geared towards police personnel,however all fire service personnel are welcome.
2.) Arson Investigation Comprehensive training curriculum:
i. The training will be conducted by NYS and Nationally accredited Fire Service Instructors as well as ATF Fire Investigative Personnel from New York City, Albany, New Jersey, and an electrical engineer out of Washington DC.
ii. 24-hour comprehensive arson investigation training program
• January 23, 1900-2200: NFPA 1321 standard for fire investigation units overview (new standard) & ATF Fire Investigation resources overview
• February 20, 1900-2200: Evidence Recognition, Crime Scene Preservation & Fire Scene Photography
• March 19, 0900-1800 (full day) : Electrical Fire Cause Determination & Elimination (taught by ATF electrical engineer)
• April 18, 1900-2200: Evidence collection, Submission, Production and Chain of Custody
• May 22, 1900-2200 : NFPA 921 Compliant Report Writing, Scene Diagraming & Report Standardization
• June 17, 1900-2200 : Expert Witness testimony, CV writing, Formatting, and Updates
District Attorney Hoovler said, “The Hudson Valley Arson and Explosives Task Force training series will be the first of its kind in the region and it will improve the quality of scene investigations and result in more successful criminal prosecutions. The program is absolutely free of charge and will be taught by experts in the field of arson. Certificates are provided to those who complete the trainings, and the training will be offered and provided to all interested law enforcement partners and the six-month training course for arson investigation to all emergency service providers with Fire Investigation duties. I thank the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, for providing this crucial training, as well as all the police and fire emergency responders who will be working with the Task Force.”
Since the formal creation of the Hudson Valley Arson and Explosives Task Force in September, the Task Force has been working on criminal investigations. In just six months, the Task Force has already brought three criminal arson prosecutions. Additionally, the Task Force has been requested to assist agency partners, and is currently working with the New York State Police, and several other agencies from both New York and New Jersey on the largest fire in the Northeast. We want to help everyone succeed in their respective roles and responsibilities and working together will serve as a force multiplier. “Successful criminal prosecutions deter future arson,” said District Attorney Hoovler.
ATF NY SAC Bryan Miller, said “We are proud of our ongoing and productive partnership with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and we are particularly excited about the recent creation of the Hudson Valley Arson and Explosives Task Force. Through this collaboration, we will bring our training and expertise to the table, particularly in the areas of explosives and fire investigations.
Our team of Special Agents, certified explosives specialists, and certified fire investigators are dedicated to collaborating with fire investigators in the task force to jointly investigate complex arson and explosive cases. We also aim to use our expertise in determining the origin and cause of fires to train others in this complex task. This expanded focus strengthens our collective ability to hold those who use fire as a criminal tool responsible for their actions and uphold public safety throughout Orange County.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Orange County DA’s Office as a committed member of the Hudson Valley Arson and Explosives Task Force and lend our expertise in support of the successful prosecution of arson and explosive cases in the region.
District Attorney Hoovler, who has previously been honored as Arson Prosecutor of the Year, said, “We welcome the opportunity to partner with ATF, and to support and assist our law enforcement agency partners and all those involved in fire investigations who serve the region. We look forward to working with and supporting the brave men and women who serve as volunteer firefighters.”
Any police or fire agencies who have questions about the training opportunity are invited to contact Task Force Officer-in- Charge Vincent Spampinato by calling (845) 923-3677, or sending him an email at [email protected] .
Any Assistant District Attorneys who have questions about participating in the regional task force are invited to contact Hudson Valley Arson and Explosives Task Force, Chief, ADA Amanda M. Bettinelli by calling (845) 360-6823, or sending heran email at [email protected].